Turkish piling

A third goes to higher education

This is shown by research of the IMES, the institute for migration & ethnic studies, a institute of the university of Amserdam. The outcome of the research is remarkable, because the percentage of other countries in Europe with a comparable community is much different. For example in Sweden, half of the Turkish youngsters attend a secondary school which prepares for higher education, but eventually a quarter actually goes to higher education. In Holland only a quarter of the Turkish youth does HAVO or VWO, but only a third eventually ends up in higher education.

Huge differences within Europe.

The researchers especially investigated the differences between European countries. They don’t see a connection with the possible differences in the parents’ educational degrees of the youngsters; everywhere the parents haven’t had much education and all originally come from the country. What the researches noticed is the huge differences in educational systems and the resulting educational careers of these youngsters.

Causes and solutions

Immigrants often receive an advice at primary school which is actually too low. Verhoeven: ‘The language deficiency seems to be the most important cause for the low advice after the primary school. Perhaps because of the late entrance in primary school (immigrants hardly go to the preliminary school-reception) Dutch immigrants built up a language deficiency which they have to pay for during their educational career.

Top Class

A currently commented solution is a top class besides primary school. Verhoeven: ‘A solution at the source is of course in order to stimulate foreign children to participate in preliminary school-reception. Furthermore, command of the language is fortunately being paid more attention to within the MBO. Hopefully this will also contribute to the solution of the problem.’

The report can be downloaded (in Dutch) :
http://www.imes.uva.nl/staff/documents/OCWRapportdeLangeRoute_def.pdf