Please note that the Tel mee met Taal subsidy scheme is being discontinued in 2025. Applying for the subsidy is no longer possible.
The Tel mee met Taal (Count on skills) programme offered subsidies for activities aimed at preventing and reducing low literacy, with the Tel mee met Taal subsidy scheme 2021-2024.
Schools, employers, libraries: during the application windown, all kinds of organizations could apply for a subsidy to reduce and prevent low literacy.
The subsidy scheme
The Tel mee met Taal (Count on skills) subsidy scheme for 2021-2024 builds on its predecessor, which ran from 2017 to 2020, but has been extended and adapted in a number of areas. As a result of one of these changes, organizations which are based in the Caribbean Netherlands can apply for subsidy as well under the new scheme. The scheme was also revised slightly at the end of 2021.
Eligibility
The subsidy scheme consists of two sub-schemes:
- Low-literate employees: subsidy for employers to offer training to employees with low literacy or low digital literacy skills;
- Low-literate parents: subsidy for activities related to the promotion of an intellectually stimulating home environment, educational partnerships between parents and schools and the improvement of parents’ (digital) literacy;
The subsidy scheme for practical experiments hasn't been available since 2022.
Amounts available
The following applies for all subsidy sub-schemes: the maximum subsidy amount per application was €125,000, and applicants will be required to contribute to the costs themselves.
PLEASE NOTE: The co-financing scheme for subsidy for low-literate parents in the Caribbean Netherlands is different from the one in the European Netherlands.
These are the amounts for the Netherlands (including the Caribbean) in 2024:
In case lots are drawn
If the applications for low-literate employees and parents exceed the subsidy budget, we will draw lots to determine which subsidy applications will be approved. This will ensure that everyone is treated fairly. Once the application deadline has passed, a notary will draw lots, after which DUS-i (the Dutch subsidy implementation agency) will check the applications for completeness and validity. DUS-i’s website offers more information about the draw procedure. Read the information in Dutch or in English.
How to apply
From 1 January until 28 February 2024, Central European Time, it was possible to apply for a subsidy. DUS-i implements the Tel mee met Taal (Count on skills) subsidy scheme. Read more about the scheme on their website, or go there to submit your application. DUS-i’s contact details are also listed on their website, should you have any questions.
Read the full amended 2021-2024 Tel mee met Taal (Count on skills) Subsidy Scheme.