The Educational System of the Netherlands. Education Around the World.

Overview & Synopsis

The Dutch educational system is described, with preliminary comment on history, financing, and administration. A noncompulsory preprimary level is followed by a compulsory 6-year primary level, in which both public and private schools teach a standard curriculum of basic skills, arts, and physical training. A bill introduced in 1970, but not yet adopted, proposes more emphasis on emotional and social development and determination of curriculum by a new method. The secondary level consists of general/academic and vocational programs, and it follows a policy of flexibility whereby students can change from one kind of program to another in response to the changing educational and social situation. Programs last from 2 years (lower general secondary) to 6 years (pre-university). Vocational education, which includes teacher education, spans the secondary and higher education levels. Trends in the universities and institutions of specialized fields include the integration of higher technical and vocational education with university education and provisions for lifelong educational programs. (AV)