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GENERAL OVERVIEW It is obligatory for dutch children between the ages of fives and sixteen to attend schools. This is called the "leerplicht" (in English: Learning Obligation). There is a partial leerplicht between the ages of sixteen and eighteen. Schools however accept children from the age of four. There are Public , special (religious), and Private School s. The first two are financed by the Government and are officially free of charge but many schools ask for a "parental contribution". Public schools controlled by local governments. Special schools are controlled by a board. Special schools are based on a particular Religion . There are government financed Catholic and Protestant elementary schools, high schools, and universities, furthermore there are government financed Jewish and Muslem elementary schools. In principle a special school can refuse the admission of a pupil, if his parents indicate that they do not agree with the school's Moral Values . This does not happen very often. Practically there is little difference between special schools and public schools, except in very religious areas like Zeeland and the Veluwe , around Apeldoorn . Special schools are considered to be of higher quality however. Private schools do not receive government finances. There is also a considerable number of publicly financed schools which are based on a particular education philosophy like the Montessori Method , Pestalozzi Plan , Dalton Plan or Jena Plan . Most of these are public schools, but there are even some special, religious, schools based on a particular education philosophy. In elementary and high school the students are assessed by a team of teachers, if the pupil has advanced enough he or she can pass. If the pupil is has not advanced enough he or she has to do the whole year again. This does not happen very often. In some special cases children are allowed to pass over an entire year. All school types are inspected by a governmental agency called ''Onderwijsinspectie'' (Education Inspection) and can be closed by this agency. SCHOOLS Basisonderwijs Between the ages of five to twelve, children must attend ''basisschool'' (elementary school; literally, "basis school"). This school has eight grades, called ''groep 1'' (group 1) through ''groep 8''. There is an obligation to attend school from group 2 at age five, but almost all children start at age four in group 1. Groups 1 and 2 used to be called ''kleuterschool'' ( Kindergarten ), and many people still refer to these groups as such. From group 3 on, children will start to learn reading, writing and math. In group 8 children have to do the ''CITO toets'' (CITO Test) to determine what type of secondary education should be followed. Voortgezet Onderwijs After attending elementary education, children 11 or 12 years old attend Voortgezet Onderwijs (high school; literally "prolonged education"). Depending on the advice of the elementary school and the score of the CITO-test pupils are assigned to different levels: VMBO, HAVO and VWO. In many school there is an orientational first year called "brugklas" ("bridge class") where pupils are divided between VMBO/HAVO and HAVO/VWO. In this first year it is determined whether the child has chosen the right type of secondary education and during this year it is possible to switch to another type if it turns out the wrong choice was made. Furthermore it is possible for pupils with their VMBO-diploma to attend two years of HAVO-level education and do the HAVO-exam, and for pupils with a HAVO-diploma to attend and two years of VWO-level education and then do the VWO exam. VMBO The VMBO (''Voorbereidend Middelbaar Beroepsonderwijs'', "Preparatory Middle level Vocational Education") education lasts four years, from the age of twelve to sixteen. It combines vocational training with theoretical education in Language s, Mathematics , History , Arts and Sciences . Sixty percent of studens are enrolled in the VMBO. VMBO itself has four different levels, in each a different mix of pratical vocational training and theoretical education is combined.
For all of these levels there is Leerweg Ondersteunend Onderwijs (literally: learning path supportive education), which is meant for pupils with educational or behavioural problems. These pupils are tought in small classes by specialized teachers. HAVO The HAVO (''Hoger Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs'', "Higher general Prolonged education") has five grades and is attended from age of twelve to seventeen. A HAVO diploma gives access to the HBO-level of tertiary education. In the first three year all pupils follow the same subjects: languages, maths, history, arts and sciences. In the third year they can choose to specialize in four different profiles, which prepare for different kinds of HBO-training. In some cases a specific profile is necessary. They can still choose two additional subjects from all possible subjects and have to take Dutch and English and some smaller courses. In all profiles Mathematics is obligatory, but it differs from profile to profile what kind of maths is taught.
VWO The VWO (''Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs'', "Preparatory Scientific Education") prepares for University education. It has six grades and is attended from age of twelve to eightteen. Similar to HAVO pupils must choose a profile. A VWO diplome gives access to the VWO-level of tertiary education. VWO-pupils can choose whether to enter a Gymnasium or an Atheneum-level class. ''Atheneum'' refers to the VWO course where neither Latin or Greek is compulsorily taken; ''gymnasium'' has compulsory Latin and Greek until the third year, after which a pupil can decide to take either, or both. In the last three classes the education in ancient languages is combined with education in ancient culture. Not all schools give the ancient languages during the 3 first years. Latin may start in either the 1st or the 2nd year, while Greek may start in second or third. Only a VWO graduate is directly allowed to enter university. VAVO VAVO (''Voortgezet Algemeen Volwassenen Onderwijs"; "Prolonged General Adult Education") is VMBO, HAVO or VWO taught for adults. Vervolgonderwijs MBO MBO (Middelbaar Beroeps Onderwijs; Middle level Vocational Education) is oriented towards vocational training. Many pupils with a VMBO-diploma attend MBO. MBO lasts three years. After MBO pupils can enter HBO or get a job. HBO With an MBO, HAVO or VWO-diploma pupils can enroll in HBO (Hoger Beroeps Onderwijs; Higher Vocational Education). It is oriented towards higher learning and vocational training, which takes three to five years. The teaching in the HBO is standardized due to the Bologna Process . After obtaining enough points ( ECTS ) pupils will receive a Bachelor's Degree . They can choose to study longer and obtain a Master's Degree s degree. WO With a VWO-diploma or one year of HBO studying pupils can enroll in WO (Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs, Scientific Education). WO is only taught at a University . It is oriented towards higher learning and the sciences. The teaching in the WO is standardized due to the Bologna Process . After obtaining enough points (ECTS) pupils will receive a Bachelors Of Arts or Bachelor Of Science degree. They can choose to study longer, either one year or two, and obtain a Master's Degree of different fields including Master Of Arts , Science s, Philosophy etc. HISTORY OF THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM Compulsory Education for children was implemented in the Netherlands in 1900 . The main purpose of the law was to counter child labour. The original law only affected children aged 6 to 12, but in 1969 the law was expanded to 9 years of compulsory education, and in 1975 it became 10 years. Before 1968 the system was different and consisted of:
This was all changed that year with the ''Wet op het Voortgezet Onderwijs'' (The Law on Secondary Education), better known as the '' Mammoetwet'' (the Mammothlaw). The ''Mammoetwet'' created a system similar to the current one, although there remained a distinction between ''LTS'' (later ''VBO'') and ''MAVO'', which became separate tracks within ''VMBO'' in the modern system. Later educational reforms have occurred known as ''Basisvorming'' and ''Tweede fase''. SEE ALSO |
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