In brief: Falling student numbers
The Dutch Education Council has issued a warning to the Minister of Education concerning the combination of falling student numbers, funding cuts and the proposed introduction of the Balanced Internationalisation bill (Wet internationalisering in balans, WIB). The Council believes that this combination could have an adverse impact on vocational, higher professional and university education. The minister has overall responsibility for the entire system of education provision. The Council advises the minister to maintain oversight of the total education provision, to reflect on it periodically, and where necessary to adopt a customised approach in order to maintain adequate education provision. The Council does not see falling student numbers as a reason for the government to make radical changes to education funding and governance.
The number of students attending vocational, higher professional and university programmes is expected to decline in the coming years. Falling student numbers mean that less money is available for education, which in turn means that choices have to be made regarding education provision. At the request of the Minister of Education, the Council advises on what is needed to safeguard universal access to education, maintain educational quality and preserve freedom of choice for students.
Combination of falling student numbers and political choices brings risks
The Council warns the minister about the impact of the combination of falling student numbers, spending cuts and the proposed introduction of the Balanced Internationalisation bill (Wet internationalisering in balans, WIB). This combination poses a threat to depopulating regions, puts education provision under pressure and in some cases makes education providers as a whole vulnerable. The Council advises the minister to consider falling student numbers, spending cuts and the introduction of the WIB explicitly in relation to each other.
Generic measures not appropriate
The Council believes that generic interventions in the funding and governance of vocational, higher professional and university education are not the answer to falling student numbers. Generic measures are not appropriate because the reduction in student numbers varies by education sector, region and education establishment. The Council also points out that such changes in funding and governance demand a carefully considered approach which goes beyond the context of falling student numbers alone. Moreover, education establishments themselves are the best placed and best equipped to adapt their education provision to fluctuations in student numbers.
Reflect periodically, taking into account the interests of the labour market, students and society
Decisions about education provision require a comprehensive weighing of the interests of the labour market, students and society. Heavy emphasis is currently placed on the labour market perspective; the Council considers this to be undesirable, ineffective and unhelpful. The Council stresses that giving students the freedom to choose an education that is right for them is a cornerstone of the Dutch education system. Moreover, presumed incentivising measures such as reducing tuition fees, job guarantees or graduation bonuses have not been proven to be effective.
The Minister of Education has overall responsibility for the entire system of education provision. This requires a comprehensive oversight of education provision and of changes made within it, such as launching, discontinuing or merging programmes. The Council advises that the minister, together with education establishments, should periodically reflect on the totality of education provision and the considerations and judgements underlying it. One possible outcome of this reflection could be that a customised approach is needed to address any unwanted gaps which may arise in the provision, for example if there is a danger of reduced quality or breadth of education provision in certain regions or if a unique programme with major value to society is in danger of disappearing.