Can someone shed some lights for me regarding Dutch education system?
Hi The Dutch school system is a lot different than in other countries. A child goes to groep 3 after kindergarten. This is where they learn to read, do simple math exercises, and learn communicative skills and the like. Homework is usually not given in Dutch “basisscholen”. In groep 7 or 8 children will get some exercises to take home to prepare them for the “middelbare school”. This is where children go after groep 8, and in here they will get tests and homework aplenty. Children do get tests in groep 3 and 4, but they are usually easy spelling tests and math tests, and the results are not really binding. Children don’t get hold back at school that often, usually not at all if the parents think it shouldn’t happen. The idea behind a Dutch basisschool is simply to prepare the children for their actual study at the middelbare school. Don’t worry, if the teachers say your child is doing well, it probably is the case. The Dutch school system is not based on pumping young children’s heads
