It seems that the Dutch education system is lagging far behind and the system itslef poses hindrance to pupils of its own country, because the students who could be really wonderful at some later stage in their respective fields of academics are forced to choose a different path at the age of 12. This is really too early - how could you assess the ability of a child at 12 - the child is still to grow and his/her academic maturity is yet to come. Please give some good and reasonable though on this - else in future netherlands will have to bring in skilled migrants in larger number.

By P Chatterjee | May 11, 2009 1:05 PM

I think the Dutch education system is too cumbersome and doesn't allow students to improve themselves. I think the concerned ministry must make a research to improve the education system.

By Fukuyama | May 11, 2009 4:39 PM

Goood.

By SARA | May 11, 2009 5:10 PM

The dutch education system does not favour migrant children at all. Apart from the fact that children at 11+ years old are graded by a CITO text to determine what kind of future the child would have is one of irresponsibility for any educationist. Furthermore, the same class teacher determines the level of secondary school education for the child - irrespective of the grades the child got at the CITO test. A teacher, who should have taught the child in her class then become the "judge and executor" and there is almost nothing the child or the parents can do about that choice made by the class the same teacher.
Above all, it is known fact among serious minded migrants parents do take a child who has been 'mis-diagonised' as unfit for a higher level in the second circle school, do rather well when they are taken outside to, for example or USA or UK. Migrant parents know this all along but they are powerless to do anything about this. There is room for discrimination in this system in Holland.

By nana aquasi | May 11, 2009 6:01 PM

nana aquasi, u are right!!!
Once rated unfit for direct university education. Now fit for high-tech PHD in Netherlands.Thanks to my parents quick reaction to educate in Ghana. Thanks to Ghanaian education system.

By nan kofi | May 12, 2009 8:22 AM

There is allways a worst place! I was 10
years in Germany and in some province there (f.e. in Bayern) the children are
separated by level (the same as here) but
at the age of 10 years! It is amazing. Later they don't understand why they rate not so good in PISA tests.

By Gabriela | May 12, 2009 10:12 AM

My daughter, 10 years old has just completed her Entree Toets. On the basis of her results, the 'level'of secondary education will be decided. The CITO toets which she will take a few months after her 11th birthday will also be a deciding factor. But the bottom line is that at 10 years of age her future has already been mapped out for her.

Where is the forward thinking, open, tolerant and all embracing Dutch society that we have read so much about. In 7 years I have experienced little of the above.

By Carolyn O'Rourke | May 13, 2009 7:54 AM

People let;s take it easy. I agree with you is insane to make future decisions about education based on the age of 10.But from my experience having a PhD in genetics and working as a postdoc i make half the money car mechanic makes.1800 euros without a stable job.I wish i could change that.honestly speaking. university is ok when it come to education but means NOTHING for employment.Maybe in the netherlands things are good because of low unemployment but in other countries is practical workers that have a future.

By kostas | May 14, 2009 12:12 AM