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Flemish Test Results Trigger Urgent Education Overhaul
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Brussels, Belgium – The latest results from the Flemish Tests (Vlaamse Toetsen) reveal persistent challenges within the region’s education system, notably in mathematics and reading comprehension, necessitating immediate reforms. flemish Minister for Education Zuhal Demir has acknowledged the substandard performance and is pushing for urgent changes to address these issues.
Dismal Math Scores Spark Concern
The Flemish Tests, designed to evaluate educational quality, indicate that a significant percentage of students are not meeting attainment targets. Specifically, 52% of students in the A-stream of the second year are failing to meet mathematics benchmarks.Only 17% demonstrate proficiency in solving mathematical problems, a slight increase from 13% the previous year. Performance in ‘transformations’ saw 48% of students achieving targets, a marginal 2% improvement. ‘Circumference, surface, and content’ scores rose from 36% to 40%. These results underscore a critical need for enhanced math education strategies.
Did You Know? The Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) previously ranked Dutch-language education among Europe’s best. However,recent results show a significant decline,with Flanders dropping to 28th place in mathematics [[1]].
Reading Comprehension: A Mixed bag
While secondary students in the second year showed improvement in reading comprehension, rising from 67% to 81%, fourth-grade primary students struggled significantly. Only 17% achieved category A or B on a scale to E, a mere 1% improvement from last year. Similarly, only 10% of fourth-graders attained category A or B in solving mathematical problems, highlighting a shortage of top performers. These results indicate that targeted interventions are necessary to bolster reading skills at the primary level.
Minister Demir Announces sweeping Reforms
In response to these concerning results, minister Demir has emphasized the urgency of educational reforms. The reforms include new minimum goals for primary education, with a renewed focus on knowledge acquisition. Starting in September 2025, schools will voluntarily introduce these goals, with mandatory implementation the following year. Thirty “inspiration schools” will be designated to pioneer these changes, supported by a €29 million investment.
