Study shows need to modernise secondary programmes
The education minister has called for a shake-up of the programmes offered in secondary schools as a report shows they are often no longer relevant to the job market
Defining future goals
The evaluation focused on the 2008 to 2013 period, examining the evolution of the number of students. The researchers also checked whether students went on to higher education or went to work, or both.
The study showed that graduates from general education who don’t go on to higher education have difficulty finding a job. It also showed that the study programmes in technical, professional and arts education, which should prepare students for both higher education and the job market, don’t lead to the best results.
There are more than 250 study programmes in the third year of secondary education. “For each study programme it must be clear what the final goal is: continuing education or taking on a job,” Crevits said. According to the report, the content of the Textile programme should be updated, for instance, and the Tourism programme thoroughly adjusted. Other programmes should be scrapped altogether.
The results of the study will have an impact on the overall reform of secondary education, which was launched by previous education minister Pascal Smet.
Photo: Ingimage
