The Education Council wants to improve the progression of VMBO-HAVO
A new law is not enough to improve the flow of VMBO students to HAVO. In particular, measures are needed to improve the connection between the two school levels. The Education Council states this in a recommendation to the government.
The Minister of Education has the council advice asked for advice about his bill on the transition between VMBO and HAVO. The law must ensure that access to HAVO is equal at all schools and is laid down by law.
There are now many differences between schools. For example, one school wants to see a grade average of the VMBO student or they think that the VMBO student needs a special curriculum. There are also differences in staying put. The law must put an end to that and provide clarity. The law is 'a step in the right direction', according to the Education Council and the council expects it to ensure a more equal treatment of students.
The law is a step in the right direction, according to the Education Council
But the law alone is not enough. According to the Education Council, the minister must take additional measures to improve the connection. For example, the transition does not go smoothly because courses do not connect with each other. The council mainly refers to Dutch and mathematics. 'In HAVO 4, certain teaching material is assumed to be known, which is not dealt with in VMBO', the council writes.
Aligning
The two school types also need to better coordinate their exam and education programs. The minister also wants to include more professionally oriented 'components' in the upper years of HAVO, so that the gap with VMBO is smaller.
Many VMBO schools already work with special programs for students who want to go to HAVO. The Education Council welcomes these initiatives. Other measures could be upstream or transition classes and better career guidance, whereby teachers and career counselors exchange much more knowledge and give trial lessons.
Performance
Moreover, the Education Inspectorate should not be too strict about the performance of pre-vocational secondary education students in the first years, the Education Council advises. 'The transition period should in any case last until the connection has improved in practice as a result of the introduction of the new curriculum.'
