Dutch Education

There are three major levels in the Dutch educational system: primary, secondary, and higher education. All children in the Netherlands are entitled to free public primary and secondary education. When it comes to extracurricular activities, parents might need to pay for them. Dutch education is characterized by a high emphasis on developing critical thinking skills, individual autonomy, and practical application. The curriculum and instructional strategies, which place an emphasis on problem-solving and the practical application of information, meet with these ideals. In addition to guaranteeing equal funding for all schools and offering assistance to students with special needs, the Dutch system places a high importance on equity and inclusion.

Dutch Education System

Primary School: 

It is typical for kids to begin primary school around the time of their fourth birthday, regardless of when the school year officially begins. From the age of five, children must go to school, which consists of eight grades, numbered 1 through 8. About twelve years old is when the final group is finished before transferring to secondary school.

Secondary School:

Children go to a secondary school after group 8 in primary school. Secondary education is the term used to describe this type of education. The typical age range of secondary school students is twelve to eighteen. There are different levels of secondary education available in the Netherlands.

Practical training: 

A six-year program that gives students a lot of guidance and instruction. Teachers specifically assist students in developing critical general skills, like communication, self-reliance, and general employee etiquette, which are considered necessary in every industry.

Preparatory vocational secondary education: 

A four-year program that gets students ready for post-secondary occupational training and study. Preparatory vocational secondary education is divided into four pathways: Theoretical, Combined, Middle, and Basic

Senior general secondary education:

A five-year program that gets students ready for further professional study. Students are encouraged to work independently, and there is more space for in-depth theoretical study than in a prepared vocational secondary education. Students select one of the following subject profiles at the conclusion of their third year:

Science and technology, science and health, economics and society, and culture and society

University preparatory education:

a six-year program that gets students ready for a research university's scientific study. Comprehensive theoretical learning is the primary goal. Students select one of the four subject profiles listed below after finishing their third year: society and culture, society and economy, health and science, and Engineering and science.

Tertiary education:

All post-secondary educational programs, including post-secondary vocational education and training and higher education, are referred to as tertiary education. About 45% of high school graduates in the Netherlands immediately enroll in four-year schools, while 17% do the same at two-year institutions. Approximately 36% of Dutch people between the ages of 15 and 74 have an HBO or college degree. Compared to men, women are more likely to complete their higher education. Additionally, there are differences in graduation rates across various ethnic groups.

Special Needs Education: 

About 110,000 students in the Netherlands receive special education.

Special needs primary education: 

These schools use the same learning objectives as traditional primary schools; the main difference is that the teaching materials are provided in a way that considers each child's unique circumstances and requirements.

Special needs education is organized into four clusters: 

Cluster 1: blind and visually impaired students

Cluster 2: deaf or hearing-impaired students or students with a language-speech development disorder

Cluster 3: physically or mentally disabled students and students with long-term illnesses

Cluster 4: children with psychological and behavioral challenges

Secondary Special Needs Education: 

Although students in secondary special needs education are typically the same age as those in regular secondary education, the Primary Education Act classifies secondary special needs education as primary education. It is intended for kids who require specific assistance that is not available in traditional secondary schools. The learning objectives might then be different from those in other secondary education programs.


Typical School Day: 

Students go to class Monday through Friday. Primary school classes run from 8:30 to 15:00, with a lunch break of one hour at 12:00. Students leave for home at 12:00 on Wednesdays, which are half days. Depending on the day's schedule, secondary school students' classes begin at 8:30 and end at roughly 16:00 or 17:00.


Difference between Education in the USA and the Netherlands:

The Netherlands has an early tracking system that emphasizes trade and higher education possibilities, whereas the US has a more uniform, broad-based high school system. As well as In the Netherlands, a 10-point scale is used, but in the USA, the GPA system (Grade Point Average) is used. In the Netherlands, the focus is primarily on in-depth academic knowledge and self-development, but in the US, you can anticipate a more interactive and practice-oriented education.


Cites Used:

https://eurydice.eacea.ec.europa.eu/eurypedia/netherlands/early-childhood-and-school-education-funding#:~:text=early%20childhood%20education.-,Primary%20Education%20and%20Special%20Education,it%20is%20to%20be%20spent.

https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=51#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20about%2045%20percent,in%202012%20(37%20percent).

https://www.cbs.nl/en-gb/news/2024/41/an-increasing-number-of-dutch-people-have-completed-higher-education#:~:text=An%20increasing%20number%20of%20Dutch%20people%20have,in%202023%20that%20share%20was%2036%20percent.

https://www.onderwijsloket.com/kennisbank/artikel-archief/how-is-the-dutch-education-system-structured/#:~:text=The%20Netherlands%20is%20committed%20to,education%20for%20the%20youngest%20children.

https://www.internations.org/netherlands-expats/guide/education#:~:text=Education%20Facts%20in%20the%20Netherlands&text=School%20hours%20in%20primary%20school,depending%20on%20the%20day's%20schedule.

https://www.plus31sports.com/blog/schoolsystem-usa-vs-netherlands#:~:text=A%20significant%20difference%20in%20the,calculated%20from%20the%20grades%20obtained.

(Sources used are hyperlinked in blue)


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