News item | 03-07-2023 | 9:00 am
A solid approach will be introduced to improve the basic skills of language, arithmetic and citizenship in secondary vocational education (MBO). This is necessary to better prepare MBO students for their future. Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf of Education, Culture and Science writes this today in a letter to the House of Representatives.
Dijkgraaf: “In secondary vocational education you learn professional knowledge that the Netherlands desperately needs, but finding your way in our ever-changing society is not self-evident. The skills to participate in our society last a lifetime. I think it is important that we continue to invest in this, even after primary and secondary school.”
More appropriate lessons and exams
For several years in a row, the Education Inspectorate has observed that the level of basic skills in the areas of language, arithmetic and citizenship is falling. The aim of Dijkgraaf’s approach is to raise this level of MBO students through more appropriate lessons and exams. The requirements for obtaining an MBO diploma are changing for Dutch and Citizenship education. The lessons must become more relevant for the student by better connecting them to the subject. Think, for example, of an installer who must be able to draw up a quotation and a salesman from the hardware store who can transfer expertise to customers. This increases motivation and thus the pleasure of learning. Last year, new requirements for arithmetic came into effect for senior secondary vocational education, as a result of which maths education is more in line with the social and professional context. For example, being able to calculate with discounts, area and proportions.
Requirements for teachers tightened
In addition to more appropriate lessons and exams, the approach is aimed at strengthening MBO teachers. In practice, it makes a lot of difference who you have in front of the class and with what expertise. At present, each MBO school determines for itself whether a subject teacher may also teach arithmetic, language and citizenship on the basis of education or work experience. The aim is that from the 2024-2025 academic year, stricter requirements will apply to lecturers for teaching these courses. Together with MBO institutions, students and teachers, we will be working on the realization of these requirements in the coming year.
Miray Özügüzel, chairman of the Youth Organization for Vocational Education (JOB), is happy with Dijkgraaf’s plans:
“JOB supports the minister’s plans, because our supporters feel concerned about the ever-declining level of citizenship, language and arithmetic education. We have been calling for clearer frameworks and attention to practical skills in citizenship education for some time now. That is why we are pleased that these measures are prioritizing preparing students for their future. In addition, it is very important that students can participate in discussions and make decisions about their education. In the end, what matters is what is done with it, just as with the higher demands placed on teachers. We will continue to monitor that.”
Raise the bar for citizenship education
Citizenship education has special attention in the improvement approach. The requirements are now too vague and too non-committal, according to the Inspectorate, students and teachers, among others. There is also too little insight and control over the quality of citizenship education. In Dijkgraaf’s approach, schools retain their own scope for how they provide citizenship education, but the rules are tightened to increase the quality of citizenship education. What is new is that school boards, in consultation with students and teachers, must be able to explain and show how citizenship is taught at school and what students learn. The Inspectorate can supervise this better due to this tightening of the statutory assignment. In addition, schools are given the legal obligation to pay recognizable attention to democratic values such as freedom, equality and solidarity in their education. The minister is also clarifying what citizenship education is, what can be expected of a teacher and what students should be able to and know at the end of their education. From the 2024-2025 academic year, 20 new so-called qualification requirements will apply. It is Dijkgraaf’s concern that students are better able to adapt in our complex society. Think of strengthening skills to be able to make independent choices about your finances, for example with practical lessons about applying for a scholarship or completing a tax form. Finally, the development of students must be visualized, for example by means of a portfolio.