THE HAGUE, 30/11/07 - Some 200 residents of Rotterdam and environs have been on a pilgrimage to Mecca at the government's expense. An Islamic school used 201,429 euros of subsidies from the education ministry to pay for trips to Saudi Arabia for Muslims.

Ibn Ghaldoun, an Islamic schools organisation in Rotterdam, organised several trips to Saudi Arabia for the visit to holy places in 2005 and 2006. In total, 197 people took part in the pilgrimages. These were not only pupils but also their parents and a large number of outsiders who had nothing to do with the school, the Education Inspectorate concludes.

The school used a state subsidy of 201,429 euros for the trips. The Inspectorate has also found other serious abuses at Ibn Ghaldoun. For example, two Imams are on the payroll who perform no teaching duties. Also, "irregularities" have been found in exams, including pupils being awarded too high points. Staff of the school also received a higher salary than is statutorily permitted and subsidies for child-care were not spent on professionals, as is required, but on the wives of board members.

The inspectorate's investigation was prompted by an anonymous letter to the education ministry about legal offences. According to the ministry, the report shows that these did indeed take place. It has reported the matter to the Public Prosecutor's Office (OM). Ibn Ghaldoun chairman B. Naas is however unimpressed. "I consider the report as an opinion."

As well as Ibn Ghaldoun, the education ministry has also investigated a large number of other Islamic schools in the Netherlands. Abuses were also found in these cases, varying from misuse of subsidies to failing management board members. The ministry considers the findings so worrying that it is considering investigating all Islamic schools in the Netherlands.