Government, Autonomy, and Legitimacy

Abstract

When looking at independent schools, the Netherlands is often mentioned as a prime example of school autonomy. Rooted in the constitution, the Dutch education system is built upon a combination of public funding and private operation. After almost a century of independent schools, the Dutch Government adopted a law recently which enables unprecedented levels of interference. Some claim unconstitutional levels of interference. In this paper, I analyze the rationale behind the new law, including the social and political context. Although this analysis applies to a small European country, the dynamics behind government interference has important implications for independent schools elsewhere.