An internship is part of education, court rules

Youngsters without residency papers should be allowed to take an internship as part of their studies because to deny them that right conflicts with the right to an education, a court in The Hague has ruled.


The case was brought by a 21-year-old man who has completed the theoretical parts of his vocational diploma but has been barred from the work-experience programme, the NRC reports.
It is not yet clear how social affairs minister Henk Kamp will react to the ruling. Last month he clashed with Amsterdam officials who said they would offer work experience placements to youngsters without residency permits.
Permits
Youngsters who are in the country illegally are allowed to attend school but the law does not allow them to undertake work experience because they have no work or residence permit. This often prevents them from completing their education.
Kamp argues that internships constitute work. However, last year the Council of Europe declared ‘work experience is part of education and must be included’.
Many internships, particularly at an mbo level, are unpaid.

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