MPs will on Tuesday decide if the ROC community college in Leiden should be closed down.

The college, which has 9,000 pupils, is in financial difficulty and needs €40m to balance its books. Education minister Jet Bussemaker is prepared to come up with the cash but the coalition parties and Christian Democrats say it should be shut down.

If the college, which offers vocational training and mbo courses, is forced to close, its students will have to start their courses again elsewhere. Some 700 staff will also lose their jobs.

The college’s financial problems stem from a decision to concentrate its 18 different locations on two sites, which went many times over budget.

Education inspectors have also criticised the quality of some courses and ordered five to be shut down.