If vaccination and testing programmes fail to halt the spread of the virus, universities and universities of applied sciences may in future require students to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test before being admitted to campus.

A law that makes this possible has just been passed by the House of Representatives and will now come before the Senate. Even so, the government continues to hope that restricted access will not be necessary in higher education. These new provisions are designed for emergencies only.

Real support

However, members of the House were keen to take possible objections by students and staff into account. They may well object to restricted access on principle or because they do not trust the system. 

Three parties – D66, GroenLinks and CDA – stated jointly that “access based on testing only serves a purpose if the measure has real support among students and teachers”. Together they put forward an amendment to the bill that makes the use of test certificates in higher education subject to the agreement of staff and student councils.

Proof

The amendment was welcomed by a large majority. Only DENK and JA21 voted against it. The Socialist Party inadvertently joined them, but later rectified their mistake. So if the COVID-19 pandemic flares up again, the choice will be between attending class with proof of a negative test or online education for everyone.

The House of Representatives is far from keen to rely on test certificates in higher education. A motion by DENK against denying students access to school or university based on vaccination or a Covid test won support from a sizeable minority of 50, thanks to the backing of SP, PvdD, SGP, FvD, PVV, JA21, Den Haan and DENK itself.