The number of people taking Dutch integration courses and compulsory language tests has fallen sharply since the end of 2012 when the government stopped all funding and left the issue up to the market, television current affairs show Nieuwsuur reported on Wednesday night.

New arrivals now have to organise their own integration schemes and pay for lessons themselves, although they can borrow money from the student loan service Duo. Most non-EU nationals are required to go through the process although there are some exceptions.

Government figures show that of the 10,641 people who were required by law to ‘integrate’ in 2013, just 17% had completed the programme by this July. Candidates have three years to pass the five necessary exams. Those who don’t can be fined.

The Social Affairs ministry says it is too soon to conclude the new system is not working well because 83% of the 2013 starters still have a year to go to complete the process.

The figures also show the pass rate has fallen from 77% in 2011 to 53% this year.

Dutch

Refugee organisation Vluchtelingenwerk points out that until recently the website explaining what newcomers have to do was only available in Dutch. The site has now been partly translated into stilted English.

In addition, many refugees are not aware of what is expected of them, the organisation says. ‘This is hardly surprising given the bureaucratic nightmare you have to find your way through,’ Vluchtelingenwerk director Dorine Manson told the programme. ‘It is even difficult for our staff to understand.’

Amsterdam city council has gone against the official government line and set up its own programme. ‘This is a vulnerable group… they are in a new country, sometimes they have been through traumas, they don’t speak the language and they have no network,’ alderman Simone Kukenheim said. ‘A website is not enough.’