Pupils from ethnic minorities catch up
16 June 2011
Pupils from ethnic minorities who start primary school with a learning deficit have largely caught up by the end of primary school. However, Dutch pupils with a learning deficit get further behind during the course of their primary education. These findings were made during a study by the Kohnstamm Institute and the ITS that was commissioned by Policy-Oriented Research in Primary Education (BOPO), part of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).
Ethnic minority pupils with a learning deficit make considerable progress in their language and arithmetic skills during the course of their primary education. Their deficits decrease by about 40 percent. However, as they still have a remaining deficit the researchers conclude that policy aimed at tackling such deficits is still needed. This applies not only to primary education but to secondary education as well.
Dutch pupils with a learning deficit – often with lower educated parents – still have a considerable deficit at the end of primary school despite the extra attention paid to their learning outcomes. Their deficit in arithmetic is only reduced by 10 percent. Their defect in language skills remains or even worsens. The reasons for this are still unclear.
The research is based on an analysis of the most recent data from the Cohort Study Educational Careers among pupils aged 5 to 18 years (COOL5-18) and previous similar studies (such as PRIMA). These studies followed several tens of thousands of pupils during their school career in primary, secondary and further education. Progress was assessed by means of tests and questionnaires.
For years the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science has effected an educational disadvantage policy. Its key objective is to reduce inequalities in educational outcomes that are related to social background and ethnic origin.
A summary of the research report ‘Prestaties en loopbanen van doelgroepleerlingen in het onderwijsachterstandenbeleid’ [Outcomes and careers of target group pupils in the educational disadvantage policy] was published this week as a brochure. This can be downloaded from www.nwo.nl/bopo (only available in Dutch).
About NWO
The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) is the principal Dutch science funding body and its mission is to facilitate excellent scientific research in the Netherlands by means of national competition. Each year NWO spends more than 700 million euros on grants for top research and top researchers, on innovative instruments and equipment, and on institutes where top research is performed. NWO funds the research of more than 5300 talented researchers at universities and institutes. Independent experts select proposals by means of a peer review system. NWO facilitates the transfer of knowledge to society.
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Further information:
- NWO, Information & Communication Department
- t.:+31 (0)70 344 07 13, voorlichting@nwo.nl
- Roeleveld, J, Driessen, G., Ledoux, G., Cuppen, J. & Meijer, J. (2011) , Doelgroepleerlingen in het basisonderwijs. Historische ontwikkeling en actuele situatie [Target group pupils in primary education. Hisdtorical development and current situation]. Amsterdam/Nijmegen: Kohnstamm Instituut/ITS
