Creative solutions for equal opportunities in the classroom

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  • Sustainability

Talent and hard work don’t always guarantee a bright future. Inequality of opportunity remains a stubborn problem in education in the Netherlands, a problem that calls for creative solutions and collaboration. And that’s exactly what ABN AMRO and Jeugdeducatiefonds (Youth Education Fund) are working on: having collaborated closely for many years, the two keep looking for ways to close the opportunities gap. Today, Hans Spekman, Director of Jeugdeducatiefonds, and Robert Swaak, ABN AMRO’s CEO, are visiting De Schakel, a primary school in Amsterdam.

They’re talking to five different Amsterdam primary school headteachers about the problem of unequal opportunities. But most of all, they’re searching for solutions from their own different perspectives.

Unequal action brings equality

Hans Spekman has been working towards equal opportunities in education for years in his capacity as Director of Jeugdeducatiefonds: “It’s essential for all of our futures. And tailoring solutions to specific schools and thus approaching the situation ‘unequally’ actually benefits children’s equality. Of course, the input of the 370 schools we collaborate with takes centre stage, as they’re smack in the middle of where it all happens. But that’s not everything by a long shot. Everyone can grasp the nettle and make a real contribution. Including corporate Holland. I know from experience how valuable that can be.”

Robert Swaak, ABN AMRO’s CEO, observed: “It was absolutely great to talk to different headteachers today. As a bank, we believe that promoting equal opportunities among the young makes for a more equitable, inclusive and stronger society. It’s distressing to see talent go to waste simply because someone wasn’t born in the right place. Our ABN AMRO Foundation works together with Jeugdeducatiefonds to address the issue.”

ABN AMRO and Jeugdeducatiefonds have been partners since 2017. It’s a partnership that has given rise to many fine initiatives. One of these is an annual seminar on inequality of opportunity, where stakeholders from education, the corporate world and politicians meet to discuss inequality. In addition, ABN AMRO has set up a project called Maatje op Afstand (‘remote buddy’), bringing together pupils and bank employees to read together. The ongoing collaboration with Jeugdeducatiefonds also meant that ABN AMRO donated 3,500 laptops when the coronavirus crisis hit, making it easier for children to be educated at home.