MINELRES: Minority education in the Netherlands

[MINELRES moderator]

Original sender: Auke van der Goot <Auke.Goot@minbzk.nl>


Dear Editors,
  
In the latest edition of Minority issues in Latvia, No. 71, an article
was published under the heading 'Does education in minority languages
exist in Europe?'. With regard to the Netherlands, information was given
which might no longer be considered fully up-to-date. In the article it
was suggested that in the Netherlands ethnic minorities (Arabs and
Turks) may use the system of "doubling" in (primary) schools: the
subjects are studied in two languages - Dutch and Arabic or Turkish.
This was true in several primary schools, until recently, and still
seems to be true in a limited number of schools today. 
  
Some weeks ago the Dutch Minister of Education, however, indicated that
such a way of teaching must be considered to be not in line with the
law. The medium of instruction should normally be Dutch, as is laid down
in educational legislation. In the Netherlands, there is a new trend now
that most of the teaching of Arabic and Turkish languages has to take
place outside regular schools hours. The same is true for the teaching
of content matters through the medium of Arabic or Turkish. For such
lessons, funding is available, but a severe budget reduction is foreseen
to take place with respect to such extra-curricular lessons from 2004
onwards. 
  
Auke van der Goot