Immigrants are falling victim to fraudulent language agencies, claims Trouw on Friday.The paper writes that – partly funded with government grants – some language agencies are giving fewer lessons than agreed, fiddling bills and ‘giving lessons in Arabic.’
Inspections body Blik op Werk received 110 complaints about language schools last year, Trouw says.
In a parliamentary debate on Wednesday, junior social affairs minister Wouter Koolmees said that there have been ‘anonymous reports’ of fraud at language schools teaching students for integration exams.
He announced an investigation into the claims, while also aiming to speed immigrants through the system by scrapping one test related to finding a job.
Language courses for the ‘inburgering’ examinations used to be provided by the state but since 2013, immigrants from non-EU countries – who are required to take them to live in the Netherlands – have been able to choose their own courses.
They are given a loan of €10,000 by the Duo testing body, and if they pass within three years, do not have to pay this back. Duo only funds courses that are accredited by Blik op Werk.
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