Digitalisation agenda for primary and secondary education

These days, a world of information is within easy reach of any classroom. Answers that in the past would have taken hours to find are only a mouse click, swipe or voice command away.

Digitalisation transforms Dutch education (English subtitles)

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Less than a hundred years ago, only a few people had direct acces to information. The classroom back then was set up for efficient dissamination of information one person in front of a class, the level sorted by the age of pupils. Today, in that same classroom, a whole world of information is within reach.

Software is used to digitally process the curricula of subjects like mathematics, spelling, language and reading. This has the advantage that pupils can immediately see how they performed. It tells pupils whether they need to work harder or have already made progress.

On the smartboard the teacher can see if somethings goes wrong, so he can immediately respond to help the pupils.

With one click, swipe or voice-command today's pupils receive answers that use to require an extensive search. By using a digital learning environment teachers save a lot of time that would normally be used for checking work or going through a stack of notebooks. Now, that time can be used to evaluate education and to see what is needed for the next class. So it is rather a relocation of the way time is used, that enables the improvement of education.

Digitalisation will radically transform education and learning in the upcoming years.

Digitalisation has radically changed how we access information. And in the coming years, it will continue to change teaching and learning.

While digitalisation can improve education, it also requires the education field to invest in developing pupils’ and teachers’ digital literacy.

Ambitions for the use of digital tools

More and more schools are linking their ambitions with the use of digital tools within their organisation. Teachers are using more digital teaching materials, digital tests and digital applications in their lessons. This offers scope for more varied teaching strategies and the possibility of tailoring education to each pupil’s needs.

Moreover, pressure of work and teacher shortages mean that schools need to create extra time and space. A well thought-out digitalisation strategy can help.

Digital literacy as the basis

It is important that pupils acquire the latest knowledge and skills. Digital literacy is a basic skill which today’s pupils need in order to participate in society.

The education system needs teachers and schools that can prepare pupils for a digital future.

Initiative

The digitalisation agenda for primary and secondary education is an initiative of:

the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW)
the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK)
the Primary Education Council
the Secondary Education Council
Kennisnet

It is also supported by a wide range of other parties in education.

Education and digitalisation

The agenda marks the start of a new discussion about education and digitalisation. Everyone’s contribution is welcome. The agenda aims to promote effective cooperation between parties within and outside the education field, including private sector parties.

Focus on 5 themes

The agenda will focus on 5 key themes in the years ahead:

innovation among teachers, school heads and administrators by learning together and with other parties
digitally literate pupils and teachers
digital teaching materials that work for users
secure, reliable and future-proof infrastructure
ongoing consideration of ethical issues relating to digitalisation in education

Complete digitalisation agenda

Read the full digitalisation agenda.