Another problem is that there are six different parties that offer the flow test. Schools must then choose which method they use. According to Professor of Educational Sciences Martijn Meeten from the VU University in Amsterdam, that is dangerous. “The providers will consciously or unconsciously ensure that the results of their test are higher. That is test inflation. The result of such a test is therefore worth less.”
A majority of the House of Representatives adopted a motion in December, in which the cabinet is called to go back to one test for all students in group eight. The Ministry of Education believes that this is too early, because the flow test will only be taken for the second time this year.
Long live education
The initiative of the Drie Haarlem schools is supported by Leve Education. That is a movement of school boards that want to improve education. Spokesperson Bart van Koppen: “We want to test that support the development of children and who rely more on the professional judgment of the teachers. This test does not give a good picture of what the students have actually learned and what they can achieve in the future.”
The students who do participate in the flow test will be told the result by 15 March by 15 March. The final advice for high school will follow on 24 March. That week all students from group eight must also be registered for secondary education. They will hear before 12 May at which school they are admitted.