A majority of MPs on Tuesday voted against the introduction of the compulsory arithmetic test for secondary school pupils.

Education minister Jet Bussemaker intended to make the test a key part of the high school diplomas from next year.

Pupils who fail it will also fail the diploma. The aim is to improve standards following complaints about college students’ poor skills.

No support

However, MPs from the coalition Labour party and the main opposition parties do not support the plan. This puts Labour at odds with its coalition partners the right-wing liberal VVD.

Labour MP Tanja Jadnanansing told news agency ANP: ‘As long as the standard of arithmetic taught in secondary schools has not improved, the test cannot be linked to the high school diploma.’

Earlier this year, unions and the secondary school council said pupils should not be the victims of hasty rule-making, bad tests and poor levels of education in some areas.