Versterkingsagenda Taal sent to Tweede Kamer to turn around reading skills in three years

State Secretary Tielen of Education and Emancipation has sent the Versterkingsagenda Taal en andere basisvaardigheden, a plan to strengthen language and other basic skills, to the Tweede Kamer. Its aim is that pupils learn to read, write and do arithmetic markedly better, with a turnaround within three years.

For pupils, that means more attention to language in the classroom in all subjects, not only Dutch. History and biology lessons are among those named.

Tielen said: “Fifteen-year-olds’ reading skills have been declining for years. We cannot afford any further decline.” She wants to stop and reverse the trend, and to achieve better reading results within three years together with everyone involved in education.

The cabinet is giving priority to four basic skills: language, maths, digital literacy and citizenship. Language is the key, the agenda says, because it lets pupils understand instructions in other subjects, express themselves, process complex information and think critically.

The agenda is not a completely new plan. It builds on the Masterplan basisvaardigheden and on what has worked in recent years, such as keeping mobile phones out of class and teachers sharing knowledge, experience and skills.

A renewed curriculum has applied since this school year, the first overhaul in twenty years, with new core objectives and exams. The agenda adds ambitious core objectives for pupils and more concrete competence requirements for teachers. High expectations are central, the ministry says, because research shows children often do better when teachers expect more of them.