In 1986 the Dutch government adopted a common core corriculum that would apply to the first 3 years of secondary education. This paper discusses why such a curriculum is necessary, both for improving the individual chances of pupils in the labor market and for society as a whole, and cites the following basic skills as the kernel of the…

Some countries have no fixed rules about classrooms' physical size or numbers of children taught therein. Italian children attend schools within their catchment area; each class has a maximum number of pupils. New Zealand schools serve all comers, except when crowding threatens. The Dutch government guarantees equal physical and teaching resources…

In 1956 the Foundation Information Centre for School-Building (ICS) was established to give information and advice in the field of school building in the widest sense by study and research, documentation, the development of new prototypes, the organization of exhibitions and meetings, and cooperation with other institutes in the Netherlands and…

The Information Centre for School Building (ICS) in the Netherlands works on commissions of the central authorities, but also for local authorities, school boards, and sometimes commercial firms. This publication contains papers by Thijs J. Geursen, the managing director of the ICS and by Kees Kamp, the deputy director. In "School Building…

A new law in the Netherlands will amalgamate nursery and primary education into basic education serving students ages four to twelve years. This publication deals especially with the new approach needed for buildings meeting the needs of the combined groups. A summary of the standards for new buildings and the findings of a study examining the…