The Dutch education system explained ! - Summary - ! ! ! CONTENTS: ! All about primary school (basisschool) (page 2) ! When school is out (after-school care & holidays) (page 13) ! Preschool (voorschool) (page 15) ! Page !1 Annebet van Mameren - New2nl - December 2014 ! All about primary school (basisschool) ! ! Dutch or international primary school? ! ! ! Why an international primary school? ! • You are staying in the country for a short period • You have ‘older’ children (6+) • Your child has already gone to a school in another country • More easy to continue school in another country in the future • Make part of the international community • If you can aford it. (Sometimes companies pay for the international education of ! the children of their employees) ! ! Recognized international curricula: ! IPC: The International Primary Curriculum (IPC) is a comprehensive, thematic, creative curriculum for 3-11 year olds, with a clear process of learning and with specific learning goals for every subject. It appeals to many international families due to !its internationally minded, as well as creative and rigorous approach to learning. IB: The IB (International Baccalaureate) program is an internationally recognized pre- university curriculum that ofers year 12 and 13 students (or year 11 and 12 in some schools) an opportunity to gain a diploma based on a comprehensive and !integrated curriculum that meets international standards. ! ! The following international schools are located in or near Amsterdam: ! • British School of Amsterdam (BSA) – Oud-Zuid (also preschool & secondary) • Amsterdam International Community School (AICS) – primary (IPC) and secondary (IB) program. Subsidized by the Dutch government. (Near Station Zuid) • International School of Amsterdam (ISA)- three IB programs (PYP, MYP, DP) - Amstelveen (also secondary) • Gifted Minds International School, Amstelveen- start: October 2014 (ages 3-12), (IPC) • Albert Einstein International School - Amstelveen (ages 2 - 12, also boarding school) • The Japanese School of Amsterdam (Nieuw-West) • French school ‘Lycée Vincent van Gogh’, (De Pijp) (ages 3-11) • Little Universe: Bilingual, private, Montessori style (Oud-Zuid) ! ! ! Why a Dutch primary school? ! • You are staying in the Netherlands for a longer period • You would like to ‘fit in’ better • Make Dutch friends, and get to know your neighbours. Please don’t underestimate the frequent playdates! • Learn Dutch (yes, you too :o)) • There are many demonstrated benefits of learning multiple languages at a younger age (cognitive, linguistic, and social) • Choice of educational philosophies/religions > find a school that matches best with your values and beliefs • Dutch schools are (almost) free. They do ask for a small ‘parent contribution’! (Ouderbijdrage – see below) ! ! ! ! ! Page !3 Annebet van Mameren - New2nl - December 2014 The Dutch education system explained: ! ! • Most children start school the day after their fourth birthday. • This means that everyone starts on a diferent day and there is no ‘first day of school event’. • In the beginning of the school year the class is still relatively small and grows overtime. • From age 5 a child is obliged to go to school (leerplicht). This means that for the first year you are a bit more flexible. You can discuss together with your child’s teacher what works best for your child. • The first days/weeks the child goes to school for half days. This is the orientation/adjustment period. Usually the parents and teacher decide together when the child is ready to go to school ‘full-time’. • Most schools have group 1 & 2 combined. The children in this class are called ‘kleuters’. In the ‘kleuterklas’ they focus on learning through play, social skills, structure, and gradual preparation for reading and writing. • Formal reading and writing starts in group 3 (age 6). • Most schools take January 1st as the ‘cut of’ date to decide whether a child is ready for group 3. Children born before this date usually stay in the kleuterklas a bit less than 2 years, while children born after January 1st are kleuters for a bit over 2 years. Apart from the date of birth, the teacher also looks at their level of maturity, and readiness for formal learning. • There are eight years of primary school (basisschool). Most children start at age four in group one and move up a group every year. After group 8 (age 12) they go to high school. • The Dutch school attendance law (leerplichtwet) is very strict. From age 5 your child is only allowed to miss school when you can prove that you couldn’t go on holiday during the school vacations because of work, or because of a family emergency. Please take this law very seriously as you will be fined when you don’t ask for ofcial permission. • At age five, a child can get max. 5 hours per week of, without any specific reason. • Although Dutch schools are free, they do ask a small ‘parent contribution’ (ouderbijdrage) with which they pay extra things like school trips, celebrations (Sinterklaas, Christmas), a dedicated music teacher, or a student- run vegetable garden. Some school base the height of the ouderbijdrage on your household income. • Although this contribution is called ‘voluntarily’, if you decide not to pay it, your child might be excluded from above-mentioned events and activities. • Most schools only start giving homework in the higher classes, to prepare for high school. • Some schools keep record of the students’ performance by descriptive reports or a portfolio, rather than grades. • Twice per year, from group 1 or 2 on, the students take a test to measure their progress and to catch any learning difculties like dyslexia at an early stage. This is called the ‘pupil monitor system’ (leerlingvolgsysteem, LVS). This is also a way to measure the quality of teaching. Please note that the students can’t pass or fail these tests and that there are no direct consequences based on the outcome of the tests. ! ! Central end test of group 8 ! • In group 8, the last year of primary school, the students take the ‘Central end test for primary education’ (Centrale Eindtoets Basisonderwijs). This is an aptitude test, in which they measure what the students have learned in the past eight years. • Spread over three days, the students are given 290 multiple choice questions testing their Dutch language and comprehension skills, mathematics, study skills, and world orientation (which is a combination of history, geography, biology and world religions). The subject of world orientation is optional for schools. • Previously a foundation called Cito designed these tests. From the school year ’14/’15, next to the Cito test a few other tests have been ofcially approved by the Ministry of Education. • From the school year ’14/’15, all primary schools are obliged to take part in an end test. • Before the end test takes place (in April), the group 8 teacher assesses what level of high school education would fit each student best. They base their recommendation on the student’s test scores of their whole school career, intelligence, their attitude towards learning, eagerness to learn, interests, etc. • Based on the outcome of this test and the opinion of the teacher, the students get their advice for the appropriate level of high school education. The assessment of the teacher is the decisive factor. ! ! ! ! Page !5 Annebet van Mameren - New2nl - December 2014 High school education: ! There are three ability levels in secondary school: ! VMBO - preparatory secondary vocational education: 4 years, followed by MBO HAVO - senior general secondary education: 5 years, followed by HBO VWO - pre-university education: 6 years, followed by University ! Many high schools have a mixed-level ‘bridge class’ in the 1st year After obtaining a diploma for a lower level, you may proceed to the next level. This route will take some extra time. ! $ ! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_Netherlands! ! The three levels of education may lead to the following professions: ! • MBO (Intermediate Vocational Education): Assistant, Secretary, Security ofcer, Ofce employee, Hairdresser, Nurse, Childminder! • HBO (Hogeschool/ University of Applied Sciences): Teacher, Accountant, Manager, Team leader, Banker, Architect, Art director, Journalist, Translator, Real estate agent, Advisor, Consultant, Midwife, Artist, Pilot! • University (=WO): Lawyer, Psychologist, Doctor, Surgeon, Specialist, Expert, Researcher, Notary, Professor, Engineer, Scientist! Quality of Dutch education: ! • High rankings for Dutch students in Pisa/OECD survey for 15-year-olds, especially in mathematics. This survey is conducted in 56 countries.! • See also: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/netherlands/ 10489496/OECD-education-report-Dutch-system-puts-premium-on-quality- standards.html. They have also interviewed me for this article!! • The Dutch government spends more per child than most other OECD countries ! • In the Times Higher Education World University Ranking study, the Netherlands is usually the best represented country after the US and UK. Please note that the Dutch universities are all funded by the government and the fee is only % 1.906 per year.! • Dutch high school teachers may get a scholarship of max. 7000 Euro to obtain an additional bachelor or master's degree. This continuing professional development increases the quality of education ofered nationally.! ! ! School hours: ! • Schools may decide on their own opening hours. • Usually school starts around 8:45am and ends around 3:15pm.! • Lunch break of about