Inequality in extracurricular activities impacts learning outcomes, according to research

Disparities in access to extracurricular activities and resources, such as books, sports lessons or a bed of their own, lead to inequality.

Inequality of resources at home, such as books, sports lessons or a bed of their own, causes major differences in primary school pupils' learning outcomes. At schools where children have few resources, performance lags. This is one of the conclusions of a study commissioned by ABN AMRO and performed by SEO Amsterdam Economics. The study was based on a survey held across schools throughout the Netherlands and completed by 351 teachers. As the survey reveals, broad development, access to facilities and sufficient relaxation are major factors in the children's school performance. As such, primary schools could make a real difference by offering more extracurricular activities when the new school year starts. Today, on 11 May 2022, ABN AMRO Foundation and Jeugdeducatiefonds (Youth Education Fund) will host the fourth seminar on inequality of opportunity in education.

The study, titled "Consequences of inequality of opportunity", shows that school performance is influenced not only by the place where children grow up, but also by the resources available at home. Traditionally, parents are considered to be responsible for providing extracurricular activities and at-home resources. The inequality results from large differences in the extent to which parents can offer their children access to things like cultural trips or children's books.

According to the surveyed teachers, museum and theatre visits are relatively exclusive activities. Only 14% of pupils get music lessons and 37% have fewer than ten children's books at home. One in twenty children do not have their own bed at home. Providing additional activities and resources, both in and out of school, would help to create equal opportunities between pupils.

Pandemic prevented children from discovering their passions

ABN AMRO and Jeugdeducatiefonds conclude that schools have a key role to play in increasing opportunities for all pupils. "In the absence of government funding, we want to support schools in this role. Outings, music lessons or sports are beyond the reach of some. And every classroom has a child without their own bed, who should get just as many opportunities to develop to their full potential," says Hans Spekman, director of Jeugdeducatiefonds. "Also, because of the pandemic and increased poverty, many children have not had the chance to discover their passions. Schools can really bridge the gap."

Robert Swaak, CEO of ABN AMRO and Chairman of ABN AMRO Foundation, continues: "All children deserve equal opportunities, regardless of their background. This study once again underlines the importance of giving children the right tools to develop themselves. It's social problems like these that ABN AMRO Foundation wants to help tackle with our expertise, sponsorships and volunteers."

ABN AMRO Foundation

For the past 20 years, ABN AMRO Foundation has been offering aid to children who grow up in a less privileged environment than their peers. In coordination with its partner schools, the Foundation organises weekly social activities to broaden the horizons of such children with fewer opportunities. Extracurricular activities vary from online maths lessons to sports clinics at Ajax, and from historic city walks to theatre visits. In 2021, more than 18,000 children took part in an activity under the guidance of nearly 3,400 ABN AMRO volunteers. This school year, 386 schools participated in the Jeugdeducatiefonds programme, and a hundred of these are also working with ABN AMRO Foundation.

Seminar on inequality of opportunity

On 11 May 2022, Jeugdeducatiefonds and ABN AMRO Foundation are hosting a seminar on inequality of opportunity for children. The selection of inspiring speakers includes Jeroen Dijsselbloem (former chairman of the Committee for Parliamentary Research on Educational Reform, author of De Onderwijsfamilie), Martin Olsthoorn (Netherlands Institute for Social Research), Robert Swaak (CEO of ABN AMRO and Chairman of ABN AMRO Foundation), and Hans Spekman (director of Jeugdeducatiefonds). Together they will provide insight into the necessary steps to close the opportunity gap between children. In addition, there will be a presentation of the study described here, 'Consequences of inequality of opportunity' performed by SEO Amsterdam Economics.

Study on impact of inequality of opportunity

SEO Amsterdam Economics conducted a study into differences in resources at home. The study was commissioned by ABN AMRO Foundation and Jeugdeducatiefonds. Early 2022, primary school teachers working with group 5 (8 and 9-year-olds) throughout the Netherlands were surveyed. The questions were about development opportunities, such as children's books and theatre visits, but also leisure facilities and resources at home. The study shows that there are considerable differences in these resources, which are related to school performance.

Jarco de Swart