Help vulnerable children and young people in Utrecht with homework and language skills
The temporary closure of schools has had significant consequences for children, young people and parents. Vulnerable pupils in particular are suffering from this, as they may be struggling with the Dutch language, or their parents may have no time to help them with their homework. Even now that the schools are slowly starting up again, this group still needs extra support. Utrecht University is participating in the recently founded Stadsnetwerk Taal & Huiswerk (City Network for Language & Homework), a network that helps vulnerable children and young people in Utrecht with their homework on an individual basis, to keep them from falling behind too far in their education.
Stadsnetwerk Taal & Huiswerk matches pupils between 6 and 16 years old with volunteers who are willing to become an online language and homework buddy. The goal is to help pupils who, without support, are at risk of falling behind with their school work. Education Consultation & Training (EC&T) staff at Utrecht University have been called on, among others, to train volunteers for their buddy role.
Joining forces
Because of the coronavirus crisis, the number of initiatives to help pupils who are at risk of falling behind in their education has multiplied. Following a consultation on education policy in the city of Utrecht between the municipality, the universities of applied sciences and Utrecht University, the initiative was taken to create an overview of and coordinate existing and planned initiatives in the field of language and homework support and research into the same. Professor Jan van Tartwijk is involved in this on behalf of the university. The coordination is taking place in collaboration with the Taal Doet Meer volunteer organisation and EC&T. Other activities that aim to ensure equal opportunities in education will also be included in this overview. For example, plans have been made to organise a summer school to help children who have fallen behind in their learning to catch up.
Future
By joining forces in a City Network, initiatives and knowledge centres in Utrecht can establish sustainable connections. In the future, it should be clear to schools and parents where they should turn for the different types of support. In this way, Utrecht University is contributing to equal opportunities for all children.
Come and help
Are you involved in or do you have plans to join an initiative that helps children and young people in Utrecht with their homework or language skills or aims to ensure equal opportunities for children in some other way, and/or are you doing research into this subject? Contact Karin van Look (c.j.vanlook@uu.nl) to let us know.
Would you like to become a language or homework buddy? You can sign up on the website of Taal Doet Meer.
The Stadsnetwerk Taal & Huiswerk consists of Taal Doet Meer, the Municipality of Utrecht, primary and secondary education schools, the universities of applied sciences, Utrecht University and various volunteer organisations.