Vocational schools and colleges are warning that students are not returning to the classroom despite the end to coronavirus measures, the Parool reports.

Exact figures are not available but the attendance sheets paint a worrying picture, Christien van Dinten of the ROC vocational training group, told the paper. ‘Students are finding it hard to go to school, they are less interested, and if they do come they are less enthusiastic.’

Some students are not ready to take the step to go back, a spokesman for Hogeschool Inholland said. The HBO college has now asked student advisors to ring students and talk to them about why they have not been coming to classes. A ‘back to school’ campaign is also on the cards to motivate students.

National student union LSVb is keeping an eye on the situation, chairwoman Ama Boahene said. ‘I have heard that students are having trouble adjusting to attending classes again. Some say the interaction that comes with it is very energy consuming.’

Van Dinten said the lockdowns have had an enormous impact on students. ‘They have lost touch with their studies and their fellow students. But the longer they stay away, the harder it will become.’

Non attendance is not a problem at universities, the paper found, possibly because part of the curriculum is still taught online.