Besturenraad: Association for Christian Education in The Netherlands

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Besturenraad Association for Christian Education
in The Netherlands
Reflections on objectives and challenges in the
Netherlands An introduction by dr Wim
Kuiper Director Besturenraad since
2008 Sofia, April 23, 2009
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Dutch Educational System

• Characterized by ideological divisions
• Revision of 1848 freedom of education
• Pacification in 1917 full constitutional
  equality between public and special schools
• By law, the State finances public and special
  schools
• The right to give education of any kind
• Parents are free in the choice of schools

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Leading to many organisations representing
Schools, Colleges and Universities.

• Denomination-based
• Besturenraad (Christian/protestant)
• KB(V)O (catholic)
• VBS (non-denominational)
• VOS/ABB (public)
• and smaller organisations like ISBO (Islamic)
  and LVGS (Dutch reformed)
• Sector-based
• Association for Primary Schools (PO-Raad)
• Ass. for Secondary Schools (VO-Raad
• Ass. for Vocational Schools (MBO-Raad)
• Ass. for Schools of Applied Sciences (HBO)
• Ass. for Universities (VSNU)

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Our objectives

• Looking after the interests of Christian schools,
  colleges and universities and providing services
  including
• Lobbying with government authorities
• organising networking activities
• providing knowledge exchange
• giving advice and support school boards
• and management

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Agenda

• Protecting educational system
• Focus on quality of education rather than
  control-driven governmental approach
• Legislation, e.g. on good governance, mergers in
  education
• Religion and education
• Focus on identity
• Focus on role in our society

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Our members

• 650 members
• 2500 schools,
• representing
• over 800.000 students
• aged 0 25

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Our services

• Legal Services
• Consultancy
• - Governance
• - Human Resources
• - Identity
• - Management
• - Quality Control
• Training and courses

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Our organisation

• General board and council of members
• Director supervising office of 70 FTE staff
• Turnover 7.700.000 (2009 estimate)
• Office in Voorburg, near The Hague
• Website www.besturenraad.nl

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Contact

• Dr Wim Kuiper Besturenraad
• 0031 703481148 Oosteinde 114
• 0031 654777170 Postbus 907
• 2270 AX Voorburg
• The Netherlands
• wkuiper_at_besturenraad.nl
• www.besturenraad.nl
• www.wijstaanachteru.nl