Dutch secondary school system too rigid, leads to segregation
6 years, 1 month ago

Dutch secondary school system too rigid, leads to segregation

Dutch News  

The Dutch education council is recommending that first year secondary school pupils should be taught in mixed ability classes so that they get to know people from a wider section of society. Another problem is that many Dutch secondary schools – particularly in cities – no longer offer a mix of academic streams, and children are segregated from other ability groups all together. Earlier this year, a survey of 2,000 teachers showed three-quarters had faced pressure from parents to recommend children went to a more academic secondary school. The pressure to avoid vmbo schools led school inspectors in 2016 to say there is an ‘unacceptable’ inequality in Dutch secondary schools and the children of well-educated parents are scoring better in final exams than children of equal intelligence from more disadvantaged backgrounds.

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History of this topic

Dutch primary schools kids' maths skills back to pre-pandemic levels: Inspectorate
1 month, 1 week ago

Dutch primary schools kids' maths skills back to pre-pandemic levels: Inspectorate

NL Times  

Pupils in the final year of primary education and special primary education now show the same mathematics levels as pupils who left primary school in 2019. Pupils who progress to secondary education at VMBO-g/t, HAVO, or VWO level need to achieve level 1S at the end of primary education in order to easily follow the coursework in high school. When …

Education council urges change to early school streaming
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Education council urges change to early school streaming

Dutch News  

The Dutch education council is calling on MPs to press for action to combat the negative impact of early selection in the Dutch secondary school system, saying without structural change the issue will continue to hurt some children. Junior education minister Mariëlle Paul said last month that she would “to retain the current system for the time being, continue working …

New primary school test does boost equality of opportunity
5 months, 4 weeks ago

New primary school test does boost equality of opportunity

Dutch News  

Three quarters of children in their last year of primary school who scored higher than expected in tests which determine which secondary school they should go to have moved up into a higher stream, according to education ministry research. Earlier this year, education campaign group KIS said primary schools are continuing to discriminate against children from migrant backgrounds when deciding …

New primary school test does boost equality of opportunity
5 months, 4 weeks ago

New primary school test does boost equality of opportunity

Dutch News  

Three quarters of children in their last year of primary school who scored higher than expected in tests which determine which secondary school they should go to have moved up into a higher stream, according to education ministry research. Earlier this year, education campaign group KIS said primary schools are continuing to discriminate against children from migrant backgrounds when deciding …

Bad marks for more schools: inspectors call for higher standards
8 months, 4 weeks ago

Bad marks for more schools: inspectors call for higher standards

Dutch News  

School inspectors say an increasing number of Dutch schools are performing below par and a large group of children are no longer sufficiently equipped with the basic skills. In particular, language, arithmetic and citizenship skills are on the decline, the inspectors say in their latest report on the state of Dutch education. Chief inspector Ria Westendorp urged the four parties …

Bad marks for more schools: inspectors call for higher standards
8 months, 4 weeks ago

Bad marks for more schools: inspectors call for higher standards

Dutch News  

School inspectors say an increasing number of Dutch schools are performing below par and a large group of children are no longer sufficiently equipped with the basic skills. In particular, language, arithmetic and citizenship skills are on the decline, the inspectors say in their latest report on the state of Dutch education. Chief inspector Ria Westendorp urged the four parties …

Over 20% of Dutch schools "inadequate," Inspectorate says
8 months, 4 weeks ago

Over 20% of Dutch schools "inadequate," Inspectorate says

NL Times  

Over 20 percent of schools in the Netherlands are “inadequate” in terms of quality of education, the Education Inspectorate said in its annual State of Education report. “Moreover, the shortage is greatest in schools that most need sufficient and well-trained teachers,” the Inspectorate said, specifically mentioning special education and schools with a “challenging” student population. “This also increases the differences …

Children with limited Dutch could start school earlier: minister
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Children with limited Dutch could start school earlier: minister

Dutch News  

The government is looking into lowering the official age for starting school from five to four, and an introducing special pre-school classes for children with limited Dutch language skills, primary schools minister Mariëlle Paul has said. Currently some 3% of children in the Netherlands do not start school at four, and that can put them at a disadvantage, Paul told …

Children with limited Dutch could start school earlier: minister
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Children with limited Dutch could start school earlier: minister

Dutch News  

The government is looking into lowering the official age for starting school from five to four, and an introducing special pre-school classes for children with limited Dutch language skills, primary schools minister Mariëlle Paul has said. Currently some 3% of children in the Netherlands do not start school at four, and that can put them at a disadvantage, Paul told …

Primary school tests take place this week, as criticism mounts
1 year, 8 months ago

Primary school tests take place this week, as criticism mounts

Dutch News  

Some 180,000 Group 8 primary school pupils will this week take a series of tests which will have an important role in deciding what sort of secondary school they should go to. ‘Schools push the pupils because they are judged by the results,’ education researcher Karen Heij told the Telegraaf on Tuesday. ‘It is a complicated, daunting system that is …

Primary school tests take place this week, as criticism mounts
1 year, 8 months ago

Primary school tests take place this week, as criticism mounts

Dutch News  

Some 180,000 Group 8 primary school pupils will this week take a series of tests which will have an important role in deciding what sort of secondary school they should go to. ‘Schools push the pupils because they are judged by the results,’ education researcher Karen Heij told the Telegraaf on Tuesday. ‘It is a complicated, daunting system that is …

Netherlands now has more highly-educated residents than high school graduates
2 years, 4 months ago

Netherlands now has more highly-educated residents than high school graduates

NL Times  

Highly educated has become the norm in the Netherlands, with 42 percent of employees having completed an HBO or WO education. And secondly, fewer and fewer young people are picking vocational education as they expect to need higher education for future job prospects. “The number of secondary vocational education students will decrease in the coming years due to an expected …

Students to get more flexibility with secondary school choice to cut education inequalities
2 years, 4 months ago

Students to get more flexibility with secondary school choice to cut education inequalities

NL Times  

Education Minister Dennis Wiersma wants students to be able to make delay their decision about whether they intend to follow a VMBO, HAVO, or VWO program in secondary school. The school choice children make with their parents is still largely determined by a final test given in group 8 of primary school, and advice provided by the school. The Education …

Schools pressed to boost reading, math levels
2 years, 9 months ago

Schools pressed to boost reading, math levels

NL Times  

Dutch schools must improve their language and math lessons within two years, as well lessons on civics. For example, 91 percent of primary schools say increased professionalism would help improve math lessons. Minister Dennis Wiersma said he would develop a "master plan to get the basics in order, with extra support for teachers." Teachers will receive a higher salary, less …

Dutch education system increasing inequality among children; Quality insufficent
3 years, 6 months ago

Dutch education system increasing inequality among children; Quality insufficent

NL Times  

The Netherlands' education system does not reduce the inequality in opportunities among children, but rather increases it, the social and economic council SER said in advice to the Cabinet. Children from lower socio-economic backgrounds are less likely to have a "stimulating and facilitating home environment", resulting in them experiencing relatively more negative consequences of school closures. Equal opportunities are "in …

Amsterdam invests in equal opportunities in primary, secondary education
3 years, 7 months ago

Amsterdam invests in equal opportunities in primary, secondary education

NL Times  

Amsterdam is investing millions of euros into equal opportunities in primary- and secondary education. With this money, schools can offer extra learning time and tutoring for pupils, invest in smaller classes, new teaching materials, and extra training for teachers, the Amsterdam office of mayor and aldermen said. This investment, 9.2 million euros for secondary education over four years and 12 …

Girls, low-income pupils hardest hit by scrapping primary school test
3 years, 9 months ago

Girls, low-income pupils hardest hit by scrapping primary school test

Dutch News  

More primary school children have been told that they should go to a trade school next academic year as school leaving tests were scrapped because of coronavirus, national statistics agency CBS said on Tuesday. In total, nearly 45% of 11 and 12-year-olds were placed in a vmbo, or vocational training school last year, compared with 41.5% in 2019, the CBS …

Single ability secondary schools are increasing segregation: SCP
3 years, 11 months ago

Single ability secondary schools are increasing segregation: SCP

Dutch News  

Children in different secondary school streams are usually taught in separate buildings and this is reducing the contact between different social and academic groups, the government’s socio-cultural think-tank SCP said in a new report. Because there is a great correlation between educational level and the children’s backgrounds, ‘this physical separation also means a fairly rigorous social separation,’ the report said. …

Primary school closures did hit standards, seriously hurt some pupils’ learning levels
4 years, 2 months ago

Primary school closures did hit standards, seriously hurt some pupils’ learning levels

Dutch News  

The suspension of face to face teaching in Dutch primary schools has had a more serious impact on children whose parents have lower levels of education, according to Oxford University researchers. The Netherlands, they said, ‘represents a best-case scenario with a relatively short lockdown and high degree of technological preparedness.’ The researchers compared the result of school tests before and …

Primary school closures did hit standards, seriously hurt some pupils’ learning levels
4 years, 2 months ago

Primary school closures did hit standards, seriously hurt some pupils’ learning levels

Dutch News  

The suspension of face to face teaching in Dutch primary schools has had a more serious impact on children whose parents have lower levels of education, according to Oxford University researchers. The Netherlands, they said, ‘represents a best-case scenario with a relatively short lockdown and high degree of technological preparedness.’ The researchers compared the result of school tests before and …

Dutch primary school kids booked "little to no progress" during school closure
4 years, 2 months ago

Dutch primary school kids booked "little to no progress" during school closure

NL Times  

Primary school kids in the Netherlands made "little to no progress" while distance learning in the months during which the schools were closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to research by Oxford University into pupils' test results at approximately 15 percent of Dutch primary schools. Pupils on average booked about 20 percent less progress this year than in the …

Efforts to incorporate special needs in Dutch education have not met expectations: report
4 years, 7 months ago

Efforts to incorporate special needs in Dutch education have not met expectations: report

Dutch News  

Efforts to provide a proper education for all children, including those with special needs, in the normal Dutch school system have not been as successful as hoped. An official evaluation of the 2014 ‘suitable education’ law, commissioned by the Dutch education ministry, suggests that the system is falling short due to bureaucracy, limited budgets and confusion about whether schools or …

Efforts to incorporate special needs in Dutch education have not met expectations: report
4 years, 7 months ago

Efforts to incorporate special needs in Dutch education have not met expectations: report

Dutch News  

Efforts to provide a proper education for all children, including those with special needs, in the normal Dutch school system have not been as successful as hoped. An official evaluation of the 2014 ‘suitable education’ law, commissioned by the Dutch education ministry, suggests that the system is falling short due to bureaucracy, limited budgets and confusion about whether schools or …

Problems with exams at vast majority of Netherlands high schools
4 years, 11 months ago

Problems with exams at vast majority of Netherlands high schools

NL Times  

There are still problems with school exams in the vast majority of high schools in the Netherlands, the Education Inspectorate found in study of 104 schools launched after major issues at VMBO Maastricht in 2018. Although schools in secondary education have become more alert, 70 percent of schools did not comply with the regulations around exams, NU.nl reports. In October …

Dutch teenagers are still happy, but school standards are declining
5 years, 1 month ago

Dutch teenagers are still happy, but school standards are declining

Dutch News  

Dutch teenagers remain among the happiest in the world with 79% of youngsters saying they are satisfied with their lives, according to a new survey of 15-year-olds around the globe. However, the mammoth PISA research project also showed that Dutch school standards are declining in key areas. The research showed a quarter of 15-year-olds in the Netherlands do not read …

Dutch teenagers are still happy, but school standards are declining
5 years, 1 month ago

Dutch teenagers are still happy, but school standards are declining

Dutch News  

Dutch teenagers remain among the happiest in the world with 79% of youngsters saying they are satisfied with their lives, according to a new survey of 15-year-olds around the globe. However, the mammoth PISA research project also showed that Dutch school standards are declining in key areas. The research showed a quarter of 15-year-olds in the Netherlands do not read …

School pupils are less interested in school and are scoring lower marks
5 years, 1 month ago

School pupils are less interested in school and are scoring lower marks

Dutch News  

Secondary school pupils are becoming less interested in traditional subjects such as French, German and art, but history, geography, maths and economics are increasingly popular, according to educational support group Qompas. The claim is based on an eight-year online survey covering 170,000 15-year-olds who are about to choose which subjects to specialise in for their school leaving exams. Across the …

School pupils are less interested in school and are scoring lower marks
5 years, 1 month ago

School pupils are less interested in school and are scoring lower marks

Dutch News  

Secondary school pupils are becoming less interested in traditional subjects such as French, German and art, but history, geography, maths and economics are increasingly popular, according to educational support group Qompas. The claim is based on an eight-year online survey covering 170,000 15-year-olds who are about to choose which subjects to specialise in for their school leaving exams. Across the …

Dutch schools should focus more on STEM education: teachers
5 years, 3 months ago

Dutch schools should focus more on STEM education: teachers

NL Times  

The curriculum in Dutch education must change to better prepare students for their future, according to advice from around 150 teachers and school leaders presented to Minister Arie Slob for Primary- and Secondary Education on Wednesday, NOS reports. The advisory council, called curriculum.nu, wants to focus more on STEM education - an interdisciplinary approach to learning that combines academic concepts …

Girls achieve higher level secondary education diplomas than boys
5 years, 4 months ago

Girls achieve higher level secondary education diplomas than boys

NL Times  

Of the 190 thousand kids who started secondary education in the 2010/11 school year, girls on average obtained a higher level of diploma than boys seven years later, Statistics Netherlands reported on Tuesday. Seven years after starting secondary education in the 2010/2011 school year, 43.2 percent of girls and 38.2 percent of boys obtained a HAVO or VWO diploma. Over …

Blogwatching: Stepping out of the bubble
5 years, 7 months ago

Blogwatching: Stepping out of the bubble

Dutch News  

Kristen in Clogland is a blog about an Aussie discovering the Netherlands, travel and adjusting to life in another country. Our two kids will be moving from the international school system to the Dutch education system. Our two children have been ‘under my wing’ so to say, for the past six years, attending the international school where I work. Growing …

Unevenly distributed teacher shortage putting education at risk: Inspectorate
5 years, 9 months ago

Unevenly distributed teacher shortage putting education at risk: Inspectorate

NL Times  

An unevenly distributed teacher shortage is putting the future of Dutch education at risk, the Education Inspectorate said in its annual State of Education report. The quality of education is still on par on average, but to maintain that level, "hard choices" will have to be made, the Inspectorate said, NU.nl reports. These cracks threaten to deepen "partly due to …

Dutch secondary schools want fewer tests: report
5 years, 9 months ago

Dutch secondary schools want fewer tests: report

NL Times  

Secondary schools in the Netherlands want to put a stop to the "crazy test culture". Dozens of Dutch high schools are therefore experimenting with a new teaching method called formative evaluation, in which teachers keep an eye on pupils' progress without constant written tests, AD reports. "In secondary education, pupils experience a hurdle race in which they run from test …

Dutch schools 'wrestle' with surge in expat children: Trouw
6 years ago

Dutch schools 'wrestle' with surge in expat children: Trouw

Dutch News  

Primary schools in Eindhoven, Amsterdam and The Hague are expecting a surge in the number of ‘expat’ children in the coming years, Trouw reported on Monday. This means local authorities have to fund special language classes and programmes to integrate foreign children into the Dutch system, the paper said. The region, he said, has opted to ‘internationalise regular schools to …

Dutch schools 'wrestle' with surge in expat children: Trouw
6 years ago

Dutch schools 'wrestle' with surge in expat children: Trouw

Dutch News  

Primary schools in Eindhoven, Amsterdam and The Hague are expecting a surge in the number of ‘expat’ children in the coming years, Trouw reported on Monday. This means local authorities have to fund special language classes and programmes to integrate foreign children into the Dutch system, the paper said. The region, he said, has opted to ‘internationalise regular schools to …

Dutch primary schools expect major increase in expat kids: report
6 years ago

Dutch primary schools expect major increase in expat kids: report

NL Times  

Dutch primary schools expect a significant increase in the number of children of expats in the coming years. "It is already going very quickly", Geert Simons, director of primary school Reigerlaan and chairman of the committee that deals with internationalization at the 22 schools under Salto, said to Trouw. "In group 8, all pupils are still Dutch, among the preschool …

Dutch secondary school system too rigid, leads to segregation
6 years, 1 month ago

Dutch secondary school system too rigid, leads to segregation

Dutch News  

The Dutch education council is recommending that first year secondary school pupils should be taught in mixed ability classes so that they get to know people from a wider section of society. Another problem is that many Dutch secondary schools – particularly in cities – no longer offer a mix of academic streams, and children are segregated from other ability …

Dutch girls more often underestimated in school advice than boys
6 years, 1 month ago

Dutch girls more often underestimated in school advice than boys

NL Times  

The correct education level for girls in the Netherlands are more often estimated lower in their school advice than that of boys. In the 2017/2018 school year, girls were more often at a higher school level in the third class of secondary education than their school advice said. According to Statistics Netherlands, in the 2014/2015 school year more girls than …

Dutch schools allowed to use unqualified teachers in a crisis; unions upset
6 years, 2 months ago

Dutch schools allowed to use unqualified teachers in a crisis; unions upset

NL Times  

The Ministry of Education will allow primary schools facing a teacher shortage to let people without a teaching qualification, but with specialist knowledge, teach certain subjects if no other solution can be found. But this is an ultimate measure - schools must first have tried everything in their power to find another solution, the Ministry of Education said. The measure …

Amsterdam teacher shortage: 7,900 kids don't have a teacher yet
6 years, 6 months ago

Amsterdam teacher shortage: 7,900 kids don't have a teacher yet

NL Times  

Around 7,900 children in Amsterdam do not yet know who their teacher will be next year, according to BBO, an administrative group of 35 primary schools in the city. The primary school teacher shortage in Amsterdam is expected to increase to 500 open vacancies by 2023, which means that 15 thousand pupils won't have a teacher. Over the past months, …

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