School closure does not affect depopulating village
Closing schools in depopulating areas always leads to vehement protests. That’s wrong, says depopulation expert Tialda Haartsen of the University of Groningen. According to Haartsen, it’s simply a myth that the vanishing of a school has a serious negative effect on the quality of life in a village.
Haartsen: ‘A school often plays several roles in a village. It’s only natural that it will take time to find ways to replace those functions. Where will I have to take my child to school? Where will I hear the village gossip? But once the dust has settled, the quality of life is just as good as it was before the school closed.’ The relationship between schools closing and the quality of life in depopulating areas is one of the themes that will be discussed on 26 November during the Liveability, Participation, Resilience conference held to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Depopulation Knowledge Network North Netherlands.
More information
- Tialda Haartsen
- Angelique van Wingerden
- Kennisnetwerk Krimp Noord-Nederland
Last modified: | 06 October 2023 2.59 p.m. |
More news
-
22 August 2024
NWO awards grant to major research into the relationship between rural areas and cities
The relation between rural areas and cities have been under pressure in recent years and require future-proof spatial solutions. This is why the Fertile Soils project, in which 10 knowledge institutes and 30 practical partners work together,...
-
08 July 2024
New collaboration between UGBS and Faculty of Spatial Sciences: education for professionals
Bringing together knowledge and experience will provide new educational opportunities for professionals working in a variety of organisations.
-
20 June 2024
Hoe stoppen we het verlies van essentiële voorzieningen in elke regio en op het platteland?
Wat kan Nederland leren van de manieren waarop andere landen in Europa basisvoorzieningen in het landelijk gebied weten te behouden? Op verzoek van het Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en Koninkrijksrelaties hebben Bettina Bock, Tialda Haartsen en...