· Due to the increase of and the heavier caseload of the op sports talent programs the dual education track of the status students is under increased pressure. The starting point has always been: BOTH academic education (at least at the level recommended by the elementary school) AND top sports talent program of the top sports association, as well as becoming a happy and healthy human being; i.e. not being forced to choose between school and sports. The policy rule alone is increasingly proving to be insufficient. It is necessary to individualize the education and guidance. . A network of European dual career schools who are willing to work together and cooperate in searching for the best possible solutions for the many questions and challenges experienced by the talent students, talent guidance, school, and educators to work towards the goal/result of BOTH school (at the appropriate level for the specific talent student), AND top sports talent program (can also be used in care, hospital admission/ illness program), as well as becoming a happy and healthy human being. This Network is called (at the moment ) T.E.E.N. (Talent/Topsport Education European Network. The word T.E.E.N. is connected to teenager, our target group).
The dual education of top sport talent is an enormous challenge within the field of education and sport, the individualized education approach and guidance. During the last 30 years the Topsport Talentschools in the Netherlands, 31 of them as of now, also known as "LOOT schools", have served the dual education track of high school top sports talents (3459 students up to date) well. Tabor College is one of these schools. The specific policy rule "granting LOOT license" which was last updated 1 August of 2023 by the Ministry of Education, certainly provides in the need to free up extra time (less hours in schedule, (partly) dispensation for specific classes, staggered exams) to facilitate participation in talent programs offered by the top sport organizations by NOC*NSF status students.