Within the
Dutch education system
Dutch or Nederlands commonly refers to:
* Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands
** Dutch people as an ethnic group ()
** Dutch nationality law, history and regulations of Dutch citizenship ()
** Dutch language ()
* In specific terms, i ...
, the brugklas (bridge year) is the first year in which a pupil enters who goes from
primary school
A primary school (in Ireland, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, South Africa, and Singapore), elementary school, or grade school (in North America and the Philippines) is a school for primary ...
to
secondary school
A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., b ...
. In order to make the transition from primary to secondary education as smooth as possible, the first year often gives a lot of explanation about how to learn and study, for example in a study lesson.
The brugklas is defined as a concept in the so-called
Mammoetwet
Education in the Netherlands is characterized by division: education is oriented toward the needs and background of the pupil. Education is divided over schools for different age groups, some of which are divided in streams for different educatio ...
, but the system was already applied before that time. The word 'bridge' here refers to the bridging period between different school levels within a secondary school. For example, in many schools that offer multiple levels (eg vmbo-t,
havo,
vwo) it is possible to combine these levels into a first year class. Usual combinations are the bridging classes vmbo-t/havo and/or havo/vwo.
After the brugklas the student has to choose the definitive education level. Some schools offer a two- or even three-year "first year class", other schools with several levels do not offer a first year class at all, so in principle the choice in the first year is therefore final. For example, if the pupil is in a havo/vwo bridge class, the educational level is approximately between the level of havo and vwo. The aim of this is that the pupil gets an idea of the level of both levels during the first secondary school year, so that he can make a good choice at which level he belongs. The intention is that in this way the pupils no longer have to
retain
RETAIN is a mainframe based Database management system, database system, accessed via IBM 3270 terminals (or more likely, emulators), used internally within IBM providing service support to IBM field personnel and customers.
The acronym RETAIN sta ...
, but can move on to a less demanding type of education in the event of difficulties. On the other hand, it may surface students whose qualities did not surface clearly at the end of primary school.
Before the introduction of the Mammoetwet, the concept of a bridge year within the secondary education system meant a type of education within primary education, for pupils who, given their age, were not considered mature enough for admission to secondary education. To do this, they usually still had a year of
U.L.O. after completing regular primary education. or go through the first grade.
Education in the Netherlands