Dutch primary schools are failing to teach children what they should be learning in practically every subject, according to education experts in today’s Volkskrant.

Tests to asses general educational levels over 20 years indicate that most (75%) children only reach the desired standard in modern history, handwriting and reading. Only 50% reached the proper standard in Dutch comprehension, grammar and spelling, while 30% to 35% achieved vocabulary targets.
A similar study last year showed that fewer than 30% of children meet arithmetic targets, fewer than when testing started in 1986.
Expert Paul van Dam, who analysed the results, said that while schools were right to spend time on popular activities ‘difficult words need to be practised and practised and tested’. ‘And that happens hardly anymore,’ he told the paper.