DUTCH SCHOOL
During the first month, we visited a primary school; I think I cannot say that the school where I went is a typical Dutch school because it is a Steve Jobs school. Even if it might seem that they only use Ipads, they combine new technologies with different pedagogical methodologies. We had a teacher from Saxion to guide us through the school. They use ideas from different methodologies to make sure that every child learns everything on their own rhythm.
One of the things that I liked it the most was that every child could improve on his/her own rhythm, because all students have a program in their ipads where they have different exercises and the software makes sure that the student has the program in his/her level. For example, if the student is at level 8 and starts to do level nine, but he is failing too many exercises, the software changes the level of the question automatically. On the other hand, I do not like that, the teacher can only see the time that the child has spent on each question and the times he/she has done it right or has failed. In general, all students are taught to work on their own since they are little so there are many spaces where students can work on their own.
In my home task, I had to describe the Spanish educational system. As I live in Catalonia, the educational system is a bit different, because it is true that the main law is the LOMCE, but the Catalan government has adapted it to their needs and has made another law called LEC.
In Catalonia, school is mandatory from 6 years old until 16 years old. Regardless of that, the government funds the nursery and the pre-primary stage, so children can begin to be in contact with other children and can begin to learn habits, routines and the language. After secondary school, students can choose if they want to continue studying “Batxillerat”, in which every student can choose the branch he/she wants to study (science, economics, arts, social studies, etc.).
EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS
COMPULSARY
- PRIMARY: 6-12 YEARS
- SECONDARY: 12-16
OPTIONAL
- BATXILLERAT: 16-18 YEARS
- OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING
Or they can choose to follow a different education called Occupational training, in which the students are being prepared to work in a specific job.
After these two types of education, you can study a degree in the university. However, the students that have studied “Batxillerat” have to pass a test called PAU, which the government is deleting it from the education system because the Spanish state wants to put another test inside the “Batxillerat” studies.