National news
6 December 2016 • HOP, Irene Schoenmacker
Pilot study bridging programmes between MBO and PABO
Next year, three universities of applied sciences will be involved in a pilot study in which senior secondary vocational education (MBO) pupils will participate in a bridging programme to prepare them for a degree programme in education in primary schools (PABO). This 6-month bridging programme can be taken by students in any MBO degree programme.
At the end of October, the Dutch Minister of Education had already announced her commitment to improve the transition from MBO to PABO. To do this, she promised to make around 2.5 million euros available in 2017 to encourage a ‘varied intake’ of pupils into PABO.
According to Profielen, the magazine issued by the Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, part of this (1 million euros) is earmarked for the three major universities of applied sciences in The Hague, Amsterdam and Rotterdam that will launch a pilot study to smooth the way from MBO to PABO.
The pilot study is intended mainly for MBO pupils not being trained as teaching assistants. At the end of their training, they can engage in a full-time 6-month bridging programme in which they remain enrolled at their regional training centre but actually take the programme at a PABO and continue to receive student financing.

Johanna Westerdijkplein 75
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