The transition test, which was intended to reduce the differences between students and schools, is actually increasing them, the PO Council reports in a report on Tuesday. The PO Council finds the outcomes “very worrying”.
The transition test was introduced to increase equal opportunities. “Unfortunately, we have to conclude that this has not been successful,” says chairman Freddy Weima of the PO Council.
If students do better on the test than expected, schools must adjust their secondary school advice upwards. The PO Council’s report shows that school advice is mainly adjusted for children from affluent areas.
In addition, it is striking that the tests from different providers yield different results. “Even if students perform the same on the test, they sometimes get different advice, depending on the test they take,” writes the advocate for schools in (special) primary education. For example, in one test, 19 percent of students receive a pre-university education (vwo) recommendation, while in another test, it is 37 percent.
The PO Council does find it positive that children more often receive multiple school recommendations. “A multiple recommendation gives a child more room to develop and gives more freedom of choice when choosing a suitable education direction.”
The test is also used by the inspection to assess schools. The PO Council does not think it is a good idea to have two functions. “We must therefore also review the role of testing in our education,” says Weima.
Primary schools already expressed concerns
Primary schools had previously indicated that there are too great differences between the tests. The Ministry of Education then said that the tests are comparable and that children receive equal advice with equal results.
The House of Representatives has already adopted a motion to investigate the use of only one test provider. They also want to examine the double functions of the transition test, but nothing will change for the 2025-2026 school year.
“In the meantime, we continue to experiment with children in this way,” says Weima. “That is unacceptable.” Therefore, the PO Council calls on politicians not to wait for the new cabinet to address the problems.