Minister to tackle inequalities in higher education

Education Minister Robbert Dijkgraaf wants to take strong action against inequality of opportunity among (prospective) students, he wrote in a letter to parliament. Young people who are the first in their families to study further or are ethnically diverse should have just as much chance to find a study place as anyone else. The Minister is also unhappy about paid training in preparation for selection procedures because some can afford it and others cannot.

Inequality can be promoted by the way students are selected, while the knowledge is available to prevent this. “It is now time for universities of applied sciences and universities to actually apply that knowledge in practice,” said Dijkgraaf. They should also better inform newcomers about the selection procedures to avoid “being put off.”

“It cannot be the case that you have the same qualifications but still have a greater or lesser chance of getting a place due to factors like extra training or the extent to which you have social and cultural capital,” said Dijkgraaf. “It is, therefore, important to actually use the available knowledge. Another measure to improve equal opportunities is drawing lots, which we made possible again last year. More and more courses are using a lottery as a selection instrument. I am pleased that this instrument meets a need.”

Dijkgraaf welcomes the fact that universities and universities of applied sciences are already looking more critically at their selection procedures and are also exchanging knowledge with each other. He also calls it important that students and employees are involved in the process.