Teachers concerned about new math requirements in MBO
Three quarters of the math teachers surveyed in MBO are concerned about the new math requirements that will apply from next academic year. From 1 August, math counts towards the diploma and students can fail.
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For example, teachers fear that students who have a lot of trouble with math will fail in this subject. In that case, they cannot obtain a diploma at their desired MBO level. There is also a fear that students will drop out if they have difficulty with maths. 'There are not enough hours available for arithmetic, so there is not enough time for the weak student', writes one surveyee.
Extra work
In addition to concerns about students, math teachers also have headaches about the extra work that awaits them. They expect to spend more time checking both the exams and the assignments that teachers will do in preparation for the math tests.
That appears from a poll commissioned by bureau ICE among 166 math teachers. The agency is a test provider - known for, among other things, the IEP Final Test in primary education. The office also makes tests for ROCs with which they can determine the level of MBO students in mathematics, for example.
Known
Slightly more than half of the math teachers surveyed, 52 percent, are familiar with the new math requirements and exactly half think it is an improvement. This applies in particular to the better connection of the new calculation requirements to the perceptions of students.
Just over half of the math teachers surveyed are familiar with the new math requirements
Pass-fail regulation
From August 1, 2022 will count count in for the MBO diploma. Students who start an MBO study in September are in the class for whom the math test counts. She be allowed to obtain a 5 for this, but then they must have obtained at least a 6 for the subject Dutch (MBO level 2 and 3). Students who do level 4 may also get a 5 for maths, but then they must score at least a 6 for both Dutch and English. Calculation thus becomes part of the weighting of the diploma.
New calculation requirements
With the change, new calculation requirements will also come into effect. It was already agreed in the 2017 coalition agreement to review the current reference levels. Mathematics had to be more tailored to different professions, and MBO wanted its own math approach because the math test in secondary education was abolished in 2020. This makes it more difficult for ROCs to estimate the level of students. The hope is also that the motivation of students and teachers will be increased with the new requirements.
An expert group further elaborated the new calculation requirements and published a report in May 2020. 'It is not only the technical side of arithmetic that is of eminent importance, but also the starting point that the contexts of assignments should be in line with the living environment of students', so wrote the chair of the expert group.
Not only the technical side of arithmetic is of eminent importance, but also the starting point that the contexts of assignments should be in line with the living environment of students
There will be new calculation requirements for each MBO level, with the exception of the entrance programme. That is different from how it is now. The reference level 2F now applies to MBO levels 3 and 2. Students doing MBO-4 must master reference level 3F. The new calculation requirements are, however, derived from the old reference levels as laid down by the Meijerink Committee in 2008. 'They are based on this, they coincide with this or consist of a selection from this or are derived from this', according to the committee that has worked out the new calculation requirements.
Intermediate answers
The new math requirements also mean new tests and exams. In the poll teachers let them know that they need tests and exams in which students receive points for intermediate answers. 75 percent indicated that they would like to. The vast majority (85 percent) of the teachers surveyed also want students to be able to work and grow at their own pace and level.
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