Dutch pre-university students may face fewer classroom hours for physics and biology from August 2027, reports newspaper Trouw (link in Dutch). With the introduction of a new national curriculum, the study load for these profile subjects is expected to decrease by 18 percent. Teachers warn that this will erode crucial practice time, even as the shortage of technically trained professionals remains acute.
Physics and biology are set aside for civics, digital literacy and, to a much lesser extent, mathematics. The cabinet is prioritizing these core skills after disappointing research outcomes among Dutch pupils. Critics fear that subject-specific depth will give way to broader, less specialized courses.
Caretaker state secretary Koen Becking told Trouw that strong basic skills are essential for success in science subjects. According to him, schools will retain the freedom to decide how to allocate hours within the new study load framework.
