From 1 September, foreign-speaking newcomers would have to take a standardised NT2 language test, which will determine whether someone is sufficiently integrated. But academics and teachers are concerned because the test would not yet be on point.
“The tests are not yet reliable,” says Flemish MP Loes Vandromme (CD&V) in “De ochtend” on Radio 1, “and that is problematic because they are the entrance ticket to Flemish society.” The language test, for instance, helps determine whether or not someone is given social housing. “We must prevent the test from becoming a lottery,” Vandromme stressed.
On the language test, newcomers have to demonstrate that they have achieved at least level A2. “With that, they can introduce themselves, have a chat about a known topic and understand simple texts,” explains Vandromme.
The Centre for Language and Education (CTO), linked to KU Leuven, has to scientifically validate this language test. An initial pilot study shows that the CTO cannot guarantee that the test measures what it is supposed to measure and can therefore show whether someone has effectively achieved the A2 level.
According to several CTO experts, September would no longer be feasible, and a reliable test could not be compiled until March or April next year at the earliest.
“Therefore, we ask that no legal consequences be attached to the results of the test or that the launch of the test be postponed,” Vandromme said. “It is a test with heavy legal consequences for people, so if its quality cannot be guaranteed, we cannot make it to introduce it.”
According to Vandromme, there are also practical objections. For instance, it would take about six hours to administer the test, whereas initially only two hours were envisaged. “That is organisationally quite a challenge,” says Vandromme.
There are also strict regulations for the centres that have to take the tests, such as fixed dates and fixed places to take the tests. And the fewer people pass the test, the fewer qualification bonuses the centres get. “The centres thus risk becoming the dupe and that is not the intention,” Vandromme says.
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Has 1/09 been set in stone? If so, how hard is it to first check to have a decent testing method and THEN set a date? Also, what’s this BS to make the payment for centres that take the tests dependent of the results? They don’t do the teaching, do they?
Stuur ze anders eens langs bij Bpost, daar zullen ze snel doorhebben als ze Nederlands kunnen of niet
Again an administration that seems to be dragging its feet in implementing government policy.
And then people complain if they hire consultants.
Election is getting close and ministers, political parties and other stakeholders are getting louder and louder again about something that triggers lots of emotions: Nieuwkomers!!!!
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From 1 September, foreign-speaking newcomers would have to take a standardised NT2 language test, which will determine whether someone is sufficiently integrated. But academics and teachers are concerned because the test would not yet be on point.
“The tests are not yet reliable,” says Flemish MP Loes Vandromme (CD&V) in “De ochtend” on Radio 1, “and that is problematic because they are the entrance ticket to Flemish society.” The language test, for instance, helps determine whether or not someone is given social housing. “We must prevent the test from becoming a lottery,” Vandromme stressed.
On the language test, newcomers have to demonstrate that they have achieved at least level A2. “With that, they can introduce themselves, have a chat about a known topic and understand simple texts,” explains Vandromme.
The Centre for Language and Education (CTO), linked to KU Leuven, has to scientifically validate this language test. An initial pilot study shows that the CTO cannot guarantee that the test measures what it is supposed to measure and can therefore show whether someone has effectively achieved the A2 level.
According to several CTO experts, September would no longer be feasible, and a reliable test could not be compiled until March or April next year at the earliest.
“Therefore, we ask that no legal consequences be attached to the results of the test or that the launch of the test be postponed,” Vandromme said. “It is a test with heavy legal consequences for people, so if its quality cannot be guaranteed, we cannot make it to introduce it.”
According to Vandromme, there are also practical objections. For instance, it would take about six hours to administer the test, whereas initially only two hours were envisaged. “That is organisationally quite a challenge,” says Vandromme.
There are also strict regulations for the centres that have to take the tests, such as fixed dates and fixed places to take the tests. And the fewer people pass the test, the fewer qualification bonuses the centres get. “The centres thus risk becoming the dupe and that is not the intention,” Vandromme says.
——
Has 1/09 been set in stone? If so, how hard is it to first check to have a decent testing method and THEN set a date? Also, what’s this BS to make the payment for centres that take the tests dependent of the results? They don’t do the teaching, do they?
Stuur ze anders eens langs bij Bpost, daar zullen ze snel doorhebben als ze Nederlands kunnen of niet
Again an administration that seems to be dragging its feet in implementing government policy.
And then people complain if they hire consultants.
Election is getting close and ministers, political parties and other stakeholders are getting louder and louder again about something that triggers lots of emotions: Nieuwkomers!!!!