Mandatory mbo math test will keep thousands of students from their diploma every year.
Noëmie Van Broekhoven (17) feels discouraged. Since the start of primary school, she has had math problems because of her dyscalculia. Now, she seems to risk missing her mbo diploma because of the required math test. Ouders & Onderwijs, Balans, and other organizations support the petition she and her mother started against the math test in this form.
When Noëmie Van Broekhoven (17) started primary school, she soon had trouble with math problems. After examination, it appeared she had dyscalculia. A developmental disorder, like dyslexia. People with dyscalculia have trouble with math and numbers in daily life, such as reading clocks, handling money and planning. Van Broekhoven got extra help and finished primary school with math at group 6 level. She could not get further than that.
At secondary school, math lessons went as if she ended at group 8 level. This caused her to fall behind again. Now she may miss her mbo diploma because of the required math test all students must pass.
"The required math test makes me feel like I have to learn in four years something I simply cannot," says Van Broekhoven. "People often say I just have to practice a lot, but that does not work at all.".
Petition
After secondary education, Van Broekhoven found an mbo-4 program that fits her talents: design. A program where math is not a main skill. But since 2022, like her classmates, she must pass the required math test with at least 4.5 to get her diploma. Then she also needs a sufficient grade (at least 6) for Dutch, and at level 4 also a 6 for English.
The student and her mother, Sophie Hack, started a petition against the required math test hoping to find a solution for her daughter and the group of students who will never pass the math test. Not even with extra good math teaching. This applies to students with dyscalculia, with very serious math problems or NLD. Also, this affects a group who, for medical reasons, have non congenital brain injury (non verbal learning disorders) and have trouble understanding numbers.
According to the Quality Institute Dyscalculia (KiD), several thousand students annually will not pass the math test, and thus also not get their diploma.
School leavers and pre selection
The introduction of the required math test is a big hurdle. Not only for current students but also for future or even potential students thinking about studying again, say parent association Balans and Ouders & Onderwijs. “We get signals there are students who quit because they risk not passing the math test. Otherwise, they fear they will end up without a diploma with student debt and have to pay back student finance and public transport card,” says Joli Luijckx from the management of Balans.
Lateral entrants who want to retrain later in life to work, for example, in care, have also contacted Luijckx. “They still remember how much trouble math gave them in the past. They therefore give up their retraining. And that is a shame. These are people we really need because of shortages in the labor market.”
"A student was even rejected from a program because the school thought she would not pass the math test. But of course you must be able to try it first.".
“We also hear from schools that select in advance who will be placed at what level based on the possible result of the math test,” says Patrick Woudstra, theme advisor mbo at Ouders & Onderwijs. Then a student is told that they have a better chance of passing the test at a lower level. And that is harmful. A student was even denied a program because the school thought she would not pass the math test. But of course, you must be able to try first,” warns Woudstra.
“There are also future students who just wait until they are 21, because then they can take an entrance test at the hbo and start a program immediately. This way they avoid the math test,” says Luijckx. “The so-called 21+ test usually only checks if your Dutch and English are at havo level,” explains Woudstra.
For Van Broekhoven, the mandatory math test in this form means she cannot finish her program.
“I am also worried that in the future I may have to look for other work just because I failed the math test.”.
Chance inequality
An overarching problem is the chance inequality between mbo, hbo, and wo, which appears earlier in the school path. “Research by the Education Inspectorate shows that especially vmbo students (72%) in the middle of secondary education cannot calculate well enough. And they do not have qualified math teachers, while havo and vwo students legally do have this right. It is unfair that mbo has to fix this math level. While havo and vwo students no longer face the math test, even if they continue studying.”
"It is important that a solution comes before the summer holidays. Otherwise, we will still have a group this year leaving school without a diploma.".
Make an exception
Both Balans and Ouders & Onderwijs want schools to have the space to prevent such practices by allowing an exception for this group of students. “Schools can, for example, ask a good, involved math teacher or other supporter to assess students who do not yet have a dyscalculia diagnosis. So parents do not have to pay for an expensive dyscalculia test themselves. The school’s expert could decide if it is realistic that a certain student will pass the math test with the necessary extra effort. If they find it is not, schools could make an exception for that student. That student could then receive a diploma with a note saying the math test was not passed. Or they put the grade on a separate sheet, as they also do in secondary education.”
Solution before the summer holidays
More and more organizations support the call to adjust the mandatory math test in this form. The petition handed over to the House of Representatives on April 16 has already been signed over 3,500 times.
We emphasize the importance of a quick and fitting solution for this group of students who, even with extra support, will never pass the math test and thus get their diploma. It is important that a solution comes before the summer holidays. Otherwise, we will still have a group this year leaving school without a diploma.
This petition is supported besides Ouders & Onderwijs by: Oudervereniging Balans, Dutch Association of Pedagogues and Educationalists (NVO), JOBmbo, Reformatorische Oudervereniging (ROV), Quality Institute Dyscalculia (KiD) and the National Professional Association of Remedial Teachers.
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