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What's going on in The Netherlands
How does education in the Netherlands differ from other countries in Europe? Internationalisation and working with ICT are both outlined as core objectives in the curriculum and thus form a mandatory component for teachers. In contrast to many European countries, streaming in the Netherlands takes place at around age 12 (as opposed to age 15 in many other countries). The type of secondary education is chosen on the basis of the results of a leaving school exam for primary level (the CITO-Test), along with the opinion of teachers and the interests of pupils (as well as, of course, parents). The rule here is: the higher the level, the longer the duration of secondary level schooling. Three modern foreign languages are mandatory for a certain period of time. English remains mandatory until the final school exam. The pupil’s level is determined by the amount of time spent learning a given foreign language, as well as the level of language knowledge. In addition to the above, informal pupil-teacher contact characterises education in the Netherlands. School boards are also granted a significant amount of independence, and for the most part determine the curriculum of the schools under them. How is ICT being implemented in the Netherlands? Almost all schools use ICT as a tool for education and innovation. The use and application of ICT is therefore more the rule than the exception. On the whole, the number of computers available to pupils is between satisfactory and good. Moreover, schools have a vision in regards to the use of ICT. Internet facilities are up to good standards for the most part and the Ministry of Education wishes to offer educational institutions the space they need to carry out improvements and reforms on their own. This makes quality and accessibility important prerequisites. The Kennisnet ICT op School Foundation plays an important role in this. Kennisnet is a public ICT support organisation that promotes the interests of the education sector in the Netherlands in the area of ICT. Their website even won a prize last year for being the most informative website. The Foundation offers tools to help schools choose ICT products and services, while offering its own educational products and services aimed at stimulating innovation. Kennisnet is the expert when it comes to ICT and education and works closely together with the Dutch National Support Service. Now in its third year, how has eTwinning impacted the Netherlands so far? The number of projects and registrations has doubled compared to last year. An increasing number of teachers, heads of schools and existing school networks are becoming convinced that eTwinning is an easily accessible way to start up ICT and internationalisation at school. That it’s catching on more and more is something we’ve noticed from the increasing amount of daily registrations that come in. Schools sometimes don’t believe that it’s so easy to start up a project. Also, the tailored support that we offer, in the form of a helpdesk and human resources, helps schools overcome their initial reservations. What kind of projects are Dutch schools most often interested in? Most projects currently running have to do with exchanging information about lifestyle with partner schools. This occurs in different ways: through web-blogs, chatting, websites, forums, etc. English is the language most often used. Twenty percent of projects are carried out at the primary school level. We aim to stimulate projects in primary and special education in the coming school year. Are there special eTwinning activities going on in the Netherlands? Once again, lots of opportunities to meet with teachers and other organisations working in the field have been planned for the coming school year. We have organised a number of meetings together with colleagues from Comenius in order to provide teachers with an overview of the possibilities that a school partnership offers. Teachers from Germany, Belgium and France can sign-up for a contact seminar to take place from 16-17 November in Brussels. In addition, two Dutch teachers are always present at each of the various European Professional Development Workshops which take place throughout the school year. You can make direct contact with them in order to start a project together. Do you have any advice for teachers who wish to twin up with schools in the Netherlands? In general, teachers in the Netherlands are easy to approach and have a good command of the foreign languages they speak. Teachers are given a large amount of freedom in implementing an eTwinning project in the classroom. If you’re not successful in coming into contact with the right teacher, don’t hesitate to contact the Dutch NSS and we’ll be happy to help you find the right school partner. Are you interested in getting involved in an eTwinning project with a school in the Netherlands? Learn more about the Netherlands by having a look at information on its national school structure and eTwinning projects.
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