Measuring output of secondary education in the Netherlands Peter Hein van Mulligen Statistics Netherlands October 15, 2008

Measuring output of secondary education in the Netherlands Overview: -background -concepts used -results -open issues

Overview Current method in Dutch National Accounts: -pupil count in different school types -school types are weighted with costs Aim: -indicator that properly reflects output growth in secondary education -current research is a first step in that direction

Concepts used Unit of output: -the amount of skills and knowledge acquired by a pupil, by receiving education Assumption 1: -each pupil that completes a school year of a given level, acquires the same amount of s&k Assumption 2: -it is possible to add up s&k of different school types (PISA or follow-up system)

Results Output growth of secondary education in the Netherlands

Results Development of numbers of pupils in three school types

Open issues Preliminary results suggest that NA underestimate output of secondary education, but: -not all school types are yet included; -there should be a better way to compare and add different kinds/levels of s&k -no adjustments are made for increasing share of pupils with lower starting levels -no adjustments for quality differences in time -how to reconcile with NA? Costs vs. value