The standard of Dutch education is declining relative to other developed countries and this could cost the country a few percentage points of gross national product in the long-term, the government’s macro-economic forecasting agency CPB says in a report published on Monday evening.

The report, Dutch Educational Achievements In Perspective, is particularly concerned with the standard of literacy, maths and sciences which are lagging behind international levels.
The quality of maths education is the worst and could cost the Netherlands’ economy €6bn a year, says the CPB.
Continuing decline
The quality of Dutch primary and secondary schools has been declining for years. According to the authoritative list Programme for International Student Assessment, the Dutch do not make the top ten for any subject. In 2009 the country was at number ten.
According to the CPB, existing resources must be used more effectively to improve Dutch education and the quality of teachers is crucial. Teachers must be better trained and more should be drawn from outside the educational circuit.
D66 party leader Alexander Pechtold wants prime minister Mark Rutte to attend parliament on Tuesday to answer questions on the subject. ‘Rutte can no longer maintain that cuts in education will be benefit quality,’ he said.
To read the report, which is in English, click here