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The instrumentation of test-based accountability in the autonomous Dutch system
- Source :
- Journal of Education Policy, 36(1), 107-128. Routledge
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Test-based accountability or ‘TBA,’ as a core element of the pervasive Global Education Reform Movement (GERM), has become a central characteristic of education systems around the world. TBA often comes in conjunction with greater school autonomy, enabling governments to assess ‘school quality’ (i.e. test results) from a distance. Often, quality improvement is further encouraged through the publication of these results. Research has investigated this phenomenon and its effects, much of it focusing on Anglo-Saxon cases. This paper, drawing on expert interviews and key policy documents, couples a policy borrowing with a policy instruments approach to critically examine how and why TBA has developed in the highly autonomous Dutch system. It finds that TBA evolved incrementally, advancing towards higher stakes for schools and boards. Further, it argues that school autonomy has been central to the development of TBA in two ways. Firstly, following a period of decentralisation that increased school(board) autonomy, the Dutch government saw a need to strengthen accountability to ensure education quality. This was influenced by international discourse and accelerated by a (politically exploited) national ‘quality crisis’ in education. Secondly, the traditionally autonomous Dutch system, shaped by ‘Freedom of Education’, has at times conflicted with TBA, and has played a significant role in (re)shaping global policy and in mitigating the GERM.
- Subjects :
- policy instruments
business.industry
4. Education
05 social sciences
050401 social sciences methods
050301 education
The Netherlands
Standardized test
Public administration
16. Peace & justice
global education reforms
Education
Test (assessment)
Reform movement
0504 sociology
Political science
Accountability
school autonomy
Education policy
Instrumentation (computer programming)
Element (criminal law)
business
0503 education
Global education
test-based accountability
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 02680939
- Volume :
- 36
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Education Policy
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....7e50287c434a5d24691b4dc92384e3d7