Education in the Netherlands Sanne Rienstra Education is

Education in the Netherlands Sanne Rienstra

Education is compulsory! • Starts at the age of 5, but most children attend from the age of 4 • Controlled by an municipal official (truancy officer). • There are schools for special education for the children with a physical or mental disability • At 16 compulsory education ends if the pupil has achieved a minimal qualification • Compulsory education ends at the age of 18 • The OECD ranks the education in the Netherlands 9 th best in the world Education in the Netherlands 2

Explanation of the education system Primary school (basisonderwijs): age 4 -12 (8 years) Secondary school (voortgezet onderwijs): age 12 -16 VMBO- pre-vocational education (4 years) age 12 -17 HAVO- secondary school-theoretical (5 years) age 12 -18 VWO- pre-science education (6 years) Higher education (hoger onderwijs): MBO-vocational training (VMBO required) (3 -4 years) HBO-Bachelor degree (4 years) University–Bachelor (3 years) or Master’s degree (4 years or longer) Education in the Netherlands 3

Education system Education in the Netherlands 4

Important moments–primary school • In the last year of primary school most pupils (ca. 85%) are tested by means of an aptitude test (Cito test) • The Cito test is taken in 3 mornings • Not all schools use this test. The Cito test is not mandatory • The Cito test consists of multiple choice questions about language, math’s, study-skills and world-orientation • Important: The Cito test gives an indication. The recommendation of the teacher along with the opinion of the pupil and its parents remain a crucial factor in choosing the right form of secondary education! Education in the Netherlands 5

Important moments–secondary school • The first 3 years of both HAVO and VWO are ‘basic formation’. The years after that are the second phase which allows for differentiation. Pupils choose a ‘profile’, for example ‘Culture & Society’, ‘Economics & Society’, ‘Nature & Technology’, etc. • Some HBO and University studies require a specific profile • Secondary school ends with a final exam. This exam is taken at the end of the last year • A HAVO diploma is a minimum requirement for admission to HBO, a VWO diploma is a minimum requirement for admission to a University Education in the Netherlands 6

Additional education by the municipality of Amstelveen • Investing in disadvantaged children - Pre- and early education, mainly (but not only) for children with an immigrant background. - Logopaedics: to signal language problems in an early stage. - Dutch language classes: as well in primary as in secondary education. Dutch lessons for newly arrived immigrant children. Education in the Netherlands 7

Different views of primary education Different schools of all denominations and convictions, all funded by the Government: • religious backgrounds: Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, etc • a specific view on education. E. g. . Montessori, Vrije School, Dalton, Jenaplan, etc. . All schools have to meet the requirements in the law. This is controlled by the Ministry for Education in the Netherlands 8

Private International schools These schools are not funded by the Govenrment • Tulip Gakuen 4 -6 years • Japanese school of Amsterdam 6 -15 years • British school 4 -18 years • International School Amsterdam 4 -18 years • Amsterdam International Community School 4 -18 years Education in the Netherlands 9

Some useful websites http: //www. government. nl/ministries/ocw http: //www. onderwijsinspectie. nl/english https: //webgate. ec. europa. eu/fpfis/mwikis/eurydice/index. php /Netherlands: Redirect http: //www. expatica. com/nl/essentials_moving_to/essentials/ dutch-education-system-explained-31083_9746. html? ppager=0 http: //en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Education_in_the_Netherlands Education in the Netherlands 10

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