More pupils go to pre-college education

The number of pupils attending schools where pupils are expected to go to university or hbo college has gone up from around 40% of the total school population to around 46% over the past 10 years, Nos tv reports on Thursday.

Some 22% of children now attend pre-university education (vwo), 24% pre-hbo college (havo) and 54% go to trade schools and vocational training (vmbo). Ten years ago, 18% went to VWO schools and 59% to vocational training.
Nos says the increase is notable because there has been no corresponding increase in scores in the Cito test, which most children take in their final year of primary school. That test is used to determine which type of secondary education a child should go to.
Pressure

Teachers told Nos that parents’ are upping the pressure on their children to do well because of the poor image many vmbo schools have.
‘If a child does not do well, parents see it it as a personal failure,’ teacher Martina de Lange said.
The national schools council has asked the education ministry to investigate the reasons behind the shift to havo and vwo schools, and the consequences for the education system.