Foto Shutterstock Minister Bruins is willing to remove the language test from his legislative proposal, as demanded by the House of Representatives on Tuesday. But, he says, only if education transitions to Dutch of their own volition.
The ‘test for education in another language’ is included in the proposed law that aims to restrict the influx of international students. Programmes must use this test to prove they have good reasons to teach their courses in English. If they fail, they must teach in Dutch.
The House of Representatives ordered Minister Eppo Bruins on Tuesday to remove this test from the proposed legislation. Instead, the House wants a “binding administrative agreement” between the minister and the education sector. A motion, by Harmen Krul (CDA) was accepted by a large majority. Only BBB, PVV and FVD voted nay.
No longer needed
‘The House’s wishes are clear, and I will work on them’, Bruins’ spokesperson states on his behalf. According to the Minister, the universities have taken responsibility to balance the internationalisation in their plans. If they implement their plans, the test will no longer be needed.
Minister Bruins also states in his reaction that teaching institutions ‘really must transition their English spoken programmes to Dutch’. How many programmes are affected and whether this also applies to master’s programmes, is not specified. His original proposal focuses solely on bachelor’s programmes.
The language used for new bachelor’s programmes is still a topic of discussion. A committee for the efficacy of higher education will assess the need for education in other languages before the start of future study programmes.
Self-governance
On Tuesday afternoon, prior to Bruins’ reaction, universities and colleges reported they were relieved by the motion that passed. They prefer to determine which programmes will continue in English. UNL believes that the education sector will be able to bring balance in internationalisation more rapidly under its own governance.
