OECD ASSESSMENT
This assessment dated from the early 1990s and has consequently now been removed from the INCA website.
Secondary school examinations HAVO and VWO certificates: compulsory subjects (pre-reform)
|
School type |
No. of subjects |
Compulsory subjects |
Notes |
| HAVO | 6 | Dutch; one of French, German, English or Spanish | Physical education is not an examination subject. It is possible to sit the examinations in seven subjects. |
| VWO
Athenaeum |
7 | Dutch; one of French, German or English | Physical education is not an examination subject. It is possible to sit examinations in more than seven subjects. |
| VWO
Gymnasium |
7 | Dutch; one of French, German or English PLUS Latin and Greek | Physical education is not an examination subject. It is possible to sit examinations in more than seven subjects. |
Source: EURYDICE and CEDEFOP (1995).
Curriculum and timetable for the two-year period of the pre-reformed second cycle, HAVO
| HAVO Profile 1 -
Culture and society studies (to 31 July 1999) |
Notes | |
| Foreign language |
200-360 |
Choice of: part 2 of language study 200; a new language ab initio 360; assessed by school exam and external examination (reading) |
| History |
240 |
|
| Mathematics A 1 |
160 |
|
| Economics 1 |
200 |
|
| One or two from the following: | ||
| Music |
360 |
|
| Drawing or craft or textiles |
360 |
|
| Philosophy |
360 |
|
| Additional foreign language |
360 |
|
| Economics 2 |
240 |
|
| Society studies 2 |
200 |
|
| Geography |
200 |
|
| Total |
1000-1680 |
(Students now follow VMBO courses.)
The curriculum in VBO schools (or on VBO courses) was a mixture of the previous common core compulsory curriculum (basisvorming) and vocational subjects, and there was a prescribed minimum number of hours to be spent on vocational subjects. Indeed, schools had the option of ending the basic secondary education (basisvorming) programme after two years to concentrate on vocational subjects.20
The recommended number of teaching periods for each subject for the four years of the VBO course were as follows :
| Dutch language |
480 |
| French language/German language |
240 |
| English language |
280 |
| History and politics |
200 |
| Geography |
140 |
| Social studies |
80 |
| Mathematics |
400 |
| Physics and chemistry |
200 |
| Biology |
120 |
| Music |
40 |
| Drawing |
80 |
| Handicrafts |
80 |
| Dance |
-- |
| Drama |
-- |
| Physical education |
400 |
| Technology |
180 |
| Life skills |
100 |
| IT studies |
20 |
| Economics |
80 |
| Study skills |
80 |
| Vocational subjects |
96020 |
The number of periods shown for social studies, the arts (music, drawing, handicrafts, dance and drama), physical education and vocational subjects was the prescribed minimum number of periods.20
VBO examinations
VBO examinations consisted of six subjects, some of which were general and some vocational. Students chose a minimum of two vocational subjects. Examinations could be taken at one of three levels (A, B and C) in the case of vocational subjects and four levels in the case of general subjects (A, B, C and D). The letters indicated the level of difficulty, with D being the most demanding. For general subjects, the examinations at A and B level consisted entirely of internal school tests. Unlike general subjects, there was no national examination for vocational subjects.20
Successful candidates received a certificate; those who passed the examination in only one or a limited number of subjects received a transcript listing the subjects passed. For the VBO courses provided at Agricultural Training Centres, assessment and qualifications took the form of credit units defined by a committee set up for the purpose.20
MAVO curriculum and time allocation (for students commencing courses before 1 August 1999)
(Students now follow VMBO courses.)
The curriculum for MAVO schools incorporated the previous core common curriculum for the first cycle (basisvorming) and tailored subjects as part of the MAVO course. The recommended minimum number of (50-minute) teaching periods for MAVO schools over the four years of the course was as follows:
| Dutch language |
560 |
| French and/or German language |
240 |
| English language |
280-920 |
| History and politics |
240 |
| Geography |
240 |
| Social studies |
80 |
| Mathematics |
400 |
| Physics and chemistry |
200 |
| Biology |
160 |
| Economics |
80 |
| Music |
120 |
| Drawing |
80 |
| Handicrafts/dance/drama |
40-320 |
| Technology |
180 |
| Life skills |
100 |
| IT studies |
20 |
| Physical education |
400 |
| Study skills |
8020 |
MAVO examinations
The MAVO examination consisted of six subjects, which could be taken at either level D or level C. Level D was the higher and at least three subjects usually had to be taken at this level. It was compulsory to take Dutch plus one modern language (English, French, German or Spanish). The remaining four subjects were selected from: French language, German language, English language, Spanish language, Frisian language, Turkish language, Arabic language, history and politics, geography, social studies, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, economics, music, drawing, handicrafts I (creative handicraft) and handicrafts II (textile crafts). Only one of the last three subjects could be selected for the examination. The combination of subjects chosen could not include more than three modern languages (unless more than six subjects were taken).20
From 1994/1995, it was possible to obtain a joint MAVO/VBO certificate, for which students had to take a number of theoretical subjects plus one vocational subject at C level. This was, however, only possible at a 'combined school' providing both MAVO and VBO courses.20
Details of curriculum subjects and time allocations during the first cycle of basic secondary education prior to reforms introduced in August 2006.
During the period of basic secondary education pupils were taught a compulsory core curriculum of 15 subjects, known as basisvorming. These subjects were:
Optional subjects
During this period, 20 per cent of the timetable was free for schools to use as they wish. This time could be employed for schools to teach subjects such as Latin, religious education, mother tongue teaching or pre-vocational subjects. Alternatively, it could be devoted to subjects from the core curriculum for this period (see 5.3.2), to private study or to vocational orientation. The time did not need to be used in the same way for every student and the amount devoted to each subject could vary from one course year to the next.20
Time allocation
The core curriculum of 15 subjects in basic secondary education was expected to cover 1,000 periods of 50 minutes per year. The remaining 20 per cent of teaching time (840 hours) could be used by schools for lessons and other educational activities at their own discretion. In the first three years of secondary school, students had to be taught for at least 1,280 periods of 50 minutes per year. Tables were published giving the recommended number of teaching periods (lasting 50 minutes each) to be spent on each subject (as follows):
| Dutch |
400 |
| English |
280 |
| Second modern language (French, German) |
240 |
| Mathematics |
400 |
| Biology |
120 |
| Physics and chemistry |
200 |
| IT studies |
20 |
| History and politics |
200 |
| Geography |
140 |
| Economics |
80 |
| Technology |
180 |
| Life skills |
100 |
| Visual arts education, music, dance, drama (at least two of these) |
280 |
| Physical education |
360 |