Reviews of national policies for education - Netherlands

The system of education in the Netherlands has undergone a great number of reforms in recent years. What is needed now is a respite, if only so that the major regulatory and structural changes that have already been made can be consolidated. Achieving a consensus on these reforms is proving a long and difficult task, particularly against a background of tight budgets and the need to monitor the quality of the education provided, but also because the Dutch system is based on a negotiated balance, tailored to suit each type and level of education, between central government control and the prerogatives of local authorities. One of the most important of these recent innovations has been the introduction of a novel programme of "steering at a distance" which will help to ensure a smooth transition towards tighter control of educational outcomes. Gliederung: 1. The examiner report 2. Summary record of the review meeting 3. Summary of the background report "Richness of the Uncompleted". (HoF/Text übernommen)