The article discusses the features of the education system in the Netherlands. This article will be interesting for a wide range of readers.
Keywords: education, special schools, problems of education.
In the modern world, education plays a very important role. The existence of a good educational institution is necessary for: people who want to be in demand in the labor market, employers who need qualified personnel and, ultimately, the state, which needs to ensure constant economic growth for the benefit of the country. In 2018, the United Nations Development Program compared countries on the education level index [6]. This index takes into account the adult literacy index (2/3) and the index of the total percentage of students receiving any education (1/3). In this rating, Germany took the 1st place. This can be explained by the fact that in Germany, higher education in German in ordinary universities is free, even for foreigners. For comparison, the United States on the same index is on the 14th place, and Russia on the 32nd. The Netherlands also entered the top 10, taking the 9th place, which is interesting, since higher education is always paid here and even parents who have a salary not lower than the average must make contributions to schools. The above rating does not reflect the very quality of the education provided, however, the more literate the population as a whole, the more qualified the personnel, the stronger the state's economy in the end. The Netherlands also ranks 10th in the world in terms of the human development index and 9th in terms of exports of goods and services. These facts look impressive for a country with a population of 17.3 million people. And, in our opinion, one of the main factors of such success is education. In this article, we will turn to the Dutch education system and try to analyze its pros and cons.
Education in the Netherlands traditionally begins with school. Children usually enter school at the age of 4 and study for 8 years. Schools here are: public, special (religious), general and private schools. In general, all schools provide the same education except for a greater emphasis on religion in religious schools and higher fees for private schools. For the first 4 years of school, children are usually not given homework to avoid overloading the material. Children study 5 days a week. The rating scale varies from 1 to 10. The study starts not strictly from one time, but depending on the schedule. After 8 years of school, children take exams in all subjects. Schools do not care how the children pass the exams, so there are no cases of help for students from teachers. For the same reason, teachers in the Netherlands do not focus on the weak student (as in Russia), but on the strong one. Therefore, if the child is not particularly active, studies average or poorly, teachers will not try to pull him to the best grades or even scold him. Teachers also usually hold the opinion that the child tries, does everything that he can and should not be put under pressure. According to the results of the exams at the end of school, children are written recommendations on where to go to study for secondary education.
This school system is often criticized by parents. Because by taking exams at the age of 12, a child actually determines their future. Recommendations from the school, although not mandatory, but affect the decision-making of parents and the child himself further decisions. Also, it is very difficult to enter an educational institution higher than the one described in the recommendation. This is mainly possible only if there is a shortage or if the child retakes individual exams, having previously agreed with the school, but this is extremely rare. On the other hand, it often happens that children do poorly in school, and when they receive secondary or higher education, they show the ability to learn academically. Research by Centrum Regenboogkind has shown that 30 % of gifted children (wrongly) it is recommended to attend VMBO, the lower level, to which 60 % of twelve-year-olds are initially sent [5]. This particular group of children has a higher than usual dropout rate (leaving school without any degree). Another problem is that although parents have the right to have their voice heard in school decision-making, they do not enjoy this right in an equivalent way, which leads to unequal opportunities for children [3].
The next place of study after school can be: Gymnasium (gymnasium) or Atheneum (VWO level, the highest, preparing for higher education); HAVO level educational institutions, preparing children for higher professional education; and, already mentioned above, VMBO level educational institutions of the lowest order. In VWO, children study for 6 years, in HAVO for 5 years, in VMBO for 4 years. After graduating from high school and entering any of the educational institutions, students choose a package of courses to study that will help them in their further specialization.
Higher education can only be obtained by completing a VWO-level educational institution. However, if after graduation the child got into VMBO, finishing it, he can go to HAVO, where after studying for 2 years, he can have their diploma. After HAVO, you can also go to VWO, where after studying for 1 year, you can get their diploma. But it's usually so rare for someone to do it, because it takes a long time. After VWO, children can go to university, where they receive higher education.
Universities in the Netherlands provide higher theoretical education with a share of practical knowledge. To get a higher professional education HBO is enough to finish HAVO. However, after VWO, some students also go to HBO. HBO institutions are more focused on studying applied sciences and training qualified people for the job. In such institutions, as well as in universities, you can get a master's degree, but you can not write a doctorate, for this you need to go to university. HBO institutions train professional musicians, social workers, IT specialists, nurses, lawyers, economists, various managers, architects, professional sports coaches, and other mostly applied specialties. After VMBO, you can only enroll in MBO. Here, security guards, cashiers, salesmen, confectioners, and others receive education.
To enter a university, HBO or MBO, you do not need to take additional exams, just submit the documents. If there are too few places, a lottery is held. Such a system allows a student to enter the university for exactly the profession that he wants. Which, in our opinion, may ultimately have a positive impact on the labor market. The unemployment rate in the Netherlands is 3.5 % by July 2019 [7].
For citizens of the Netherlands, higher education is always paid, but it is inexpensive: on average, 2000 euros per year, with an average salary per month for 2371 euros, net of taxes [8]. But for international students, a similar education can cost 4–5 times more expensive. The Dutch receive a bachelor's degree within 3–4 years. Then some go to the master's program (2–3 years). After graduating from university, it is usually not difficult for a resident of the Netherlands to find a good job.
Cheating is not allowed in the Dutch education system. If a student is caught cheating, in different educational institutions, he faces from a reprimand to exclusion. Primary and secondary schools place great emphasis on learning English. Perhaps this is why the Netherlands consistently ranks first in the rankings as a country whose residents speak English, provided that English is not an official language. French, German, Spanish and other languages are also taught in schools, but not as intensively.
Group and project work is very common at all levels of education in the Netherlands. Often students are engaged in 3–4 projects simultaneously in different groups, and when working on a project, it is assumed that students implement it and present the results of the work. At universities and HBO, students almost never write down lectures or take notes. But each student has a personal laptop on his desk, where he selectively writes down information, conducts research, and searches for information. Carrying a laptop is an informal rule, if a student does not have one or does not want to carry one, teachers often ask to use a phone. In every university and HBO, there are a lot of work areas equipped with sockets and sometimes closing doors. There, students can sit together and work on projects.
In our opinion, the Dutch education system, although it has a number of controversial points, is generally very interesting and progressive.
References:
- Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science // URL: https://www.government.nl/ministries/ministry-of-education-culture-and-science
- Information on education in Netherlands, OECD // URL: http://gpseducation.oecd.org/CountryProfile?primaryCountry=NLD
- Koster, L. De Citotoets geeft nog vaak een verkeerd advies // De Volkskrant. 2008. № 527. URL: https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/de-citotoets-geeft-nog-vaak-een-verkeerd-advies~be8b3cac/
- Netherlands Organisation for Internationalisation of Higher Education // URL: https://www.nuffic.nl/en/
- Shukman, D. IQ 'can change in teenage years' // Twin Research and Human Genetics. 2013. № 5. URL: https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/a46b/cae96ff654037cf8253876d5810daa64fa82.pdf
- United Nations Development Program: Education Index 2018 [Электронный ресурс] // URL: http://hdr.undp.org/
- Netherlands Unemployment Rate // URL: https://tradingeconomics.com/netherlands/unemployment-rate
- Average Salary in Netherlands 2019 // URL: http://www.salaryexplorer.com/salary-survey.php?loc=152&loctype=1
