Tomorrow afternoon at half past three it’s that time again: almost 8000 eighth graders will hear whether they can go to the school of their choice. A day of great tension for many children and their parents. And a day of inevitable disappointments.
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Every year there is a lot to do about the draw of the secondary schools. Figures from the Education Consumer (OCO) show that in 2021 a quarter of students could not attend their favorite secondary school.
Elisabeth Bootsma recognizes the disappointment of many children and parents. As a mother of four, she experienced the lottery draw a number of times. Son Bauke ended up in tenth place and now attends a school in Velsen-Zuid. As chair of the Free School Choice Amsterdam foundation, she has been fighting the system for years. “We were told in 2015 and 2016 that 99.9 percent of children would be in their top three or five. This has not yet been achieved and that goal is getting further away every year.”
According to her, it is necessary for the school boards (OSVO) to look at the results of the draw. “This system does not solve the mismatch between supply and demand in current education. This needs to be looked at more closely by the association of school boards. Unplug schools that don’t attract students. Divide that capacity and teachers among popular schools that are in higher demand.”
The system does have a future, she says. “But only if all the kids are in their top three.”
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OSVO chairman Rob Oudkerk acknowledges that supply and demand can be better matched. “Everyone involved with the system should scratch their heads. We are in the middle of a process of improvements. For example, by letting popular schools talk to less attractive schools. Reducing, expanding or perhaps even merging certain schools.”
However, he says: ”There is no such thing as the ideal system in which everyone ends up in their first choice. We have to work together with VSA, the municipality and parents to come to a joint solution. That is where the outcome is and not in a new system.”
Oudkerk makes a promise that the OSVO will bring supply and demand in education closer together within a year. “I give that guarantee. Not that every child comes first, but more students who come to school from their top three or top five.”
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