The number of children in special education has risen 15% since 2003, not 65% as stated earlier, education minister Marja van Bijsterveldt told MPs on Monday.

The cabinet is planning to cut €300m from the special education budget, and the 65% growth figure has been used prominently in debates.
However, the minister now says that figure is wrong because the education inspectorate has listed each problem as a child, meaning children with more than one handicap are counted multiple times.
However, the minister is still unable to explain how the 15% figure has been calculated, the Volkskrant says.