From 20230 onwards, all Flemish students will have to take a central test four times during compulsory education: at the end of the 4th and 6th year and at the end of the 2nd and 6th year of secondary education. That has now been officially decided, reports Flemish Minister of Education Ben Weyts (N-VA).
–
“This is a small revolution in Flemish education,” Minister Weyts said in a statement. ‘For the first time, we will objectively map the learning gains of all students. In this way we can improve the quality of our education in a targeted manner. ‘We will be able to measure to what extent pupils really master the final attainment levels and to what extent pupils and schools manage to achieve learning gains. We have to do this if we want to protect the quality of our education and if we want to keep setting the bar high for our students. ‘
The Flemish government allocates 13.5 million euros for the development of the central tests. These will be taken at the end of the 4th and 6th year and at the end of the 2nd and 6th year of secondary education. An university support center, as an independent body, will develop standardized, standardized, validated and cross-network and umbrella tests. The education providers will be involved in the development of the tests through a sounding board group, so that the end result is supported by the field. In secondary education, the first centralized tests will be taken in 2023, primary education will follow in 2024.
Weyts is launching an open call for a university support center that will develop the tests, support schools with the administration and analyze the results at pupil, class, school and system level. Sufficient financing is immediately provided until the end of 2025.
–
