secondary education

The government is going to extend the measures in place to curb the spread of coronavirus Covid-19. These measures were initially implemented until April 6th. Until when they will be in place will be announced on Tuesday, various Dutch media report.

The cabinet will meet with experts and advisers on Tuesday. After that the Ministerial Crisis Management Committee will gather, followed by a press conference by Prime Minister Mark Rutte and the other Minsters involved, according to NOS. The press conference is expected at around 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday.

The decision on whether or not schools will reopen after April 6 will only be made after the results of a crucial study by public health institute RIVM are known, Minister Arie Slob for Primary and Secondary Eduction said on television program Op1. It seems very likely that schools will remain closed, because the RIVM told Nieuwsuur that this study will take six weeks and it started Tuesday.

One in five high school pupils have a family member at home with a long term illness. These pupils are more likely to struggle with psychosomatic complaints like trouble sleeping, headaches, fatigue, and nervousness than their peers. They also feel more pressured by their school work and score less well on life satisfaction and perceived health, according to a study by Social and Cultural Planning office and the VU University Amsterdam.

Teachers, school leaders and other employees in education are striking on Thursday and Friday for higher wages and lighter workloads. Over 4 thousand primary and secondary schools are expected to remain closed today and tomorrow.

As far as is known, a total of 3,978 primary schools and 180 secondary schools are closed on one or both days of the strike, NU.nl reports. Together that is 56 percent of the total number of schools in the Netherlands. 59 percent of primary schools are participating in the strike and 28 percent of secondary schools.

The school performance of 15-year-olds in the Netherlands is deteriorating. Especially the reading ability of Netherlands' teens is declining compared to other countries, according to the annual PISA survey, in which 77 countries participate, including the 37 countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Compared to the rich OECD countries, Dutch teens' reading ability is below average. 

With teachers in primary- and secondary education across the Netherlands striking on Wednesday, many a parent will be wondering what to do with their kids on this extra free day. Zoos and amusement parks across the country are there to help, according to a list compiled by newspaper AD.

A number of the larger attractions are opening on Wednesday, even though they're actually already closed or partially closed for the winter. Others are offering discounts.

The teacher shortage is taking on worrying forms, according to education union AOb. Four in 10 primary- and secondary schools are already dealing with a chronic shortage in teachers. In special education, the problems are even worse - two thirds of schools don't have enough teachers, the union concludes based on its own research among 6,200 teachers, the Telegraaf reports.

"There is often talk bout shortages, but nobody knew exactly how many teachers it was", AOb chairman Liesbeth Verheggen said to the newspaper. 

The curriculum in Dutch education must change to better prepare students for their future, according to advice from around 150 teachers and school leaders presented to Minister Arie Slob for Primary- and Secondary Education on Wednesday, NOS reports.

Of the 190 thousand kids who started secondary education in the 2010/11 school year, girls on average obtained a higher level of diploma than boys seven years later, Statistics Netherlands reported on Tuesday. Girls obtained a HAVO or VWO diploma more often than boys, boys more often obtained a diploma from one of the VMBO vocational courses than girls. 

Secondary schools in the Netherlands want to put a stop to the "crazy test culture". They see too many stressed-out students who only commit to a project if it counts towards their grade. Dozens of Dutch high schools are therefore experimenting with a new teaching method called formative evaluation, in which teachers keep an eye on pupils' progress without constant written tests, AD reports.

General education union AOb and trade union FNV Onderwijs en Onderzoek are planning a national strike in primary, secondary and higher education on March 15th. Various action groups, including PO in Actie and WO in Actie, support the strike, the Volkskrant reports.