“An unfortunate choice of words.” That is how Minister Dennis Wiersma of Education calls his statement that carnival should be moved, because carnival and the transfer test for students of group 8 coincide next year. It led to many surprised reactions and parliamentary questions from, among others, the CDA. In his written answer, Wiersma retracts his statement.
The transfer test will replace the well-known Cito test from next year. This test must be administered by the Ministry between 5 and 16 February. Carnival starts on the weekend of February 10. In addition, in the week leading up to carnival, there are various special activities at many schools in Brabant, including a carnival celebration. And the following week is the school holiday: the carnival holiday.
When a school umbrella organization contacted the ministry to discuss the unfortunate schedule, that umbrella organization was told that carnival should be moved. Wiersma now says that he is aware that carnival cannot just be moved. “When answering a citizen’s question, there was an unfortunate choice of words, which I would like to take back,” the minister writes.
Don’t have to choose
Wiersma emphasizes that the tests can be taken in the days before carnival. Schools can decide for themselves when they digitally test the students. They could, for example, do this on Monday 5 or Tuesday 6 February.
A fixed day is planned for paper versions of the tests. For example, Bureau ICE’s IEP Final Test is scheduled for Tuesday 6 and Wednesday 7 February. “In this way we can ensure that schools do not have to choose between celebrating carnival or taking the transfer test.”
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