LEPOVO is the National Expertise Center for Primary to Secondary Education. It addresses the need for more in-depth and thematic exploration surrounding the transition from primary to secondary education. LEPOVO aims to contribute to further improving education for students aged 8 to 14, as well as teacher training. The Expertise Center provides (future) teachers and other education professionals with knowledge that supports continuous development and promotes equal opportunities for these students.
LEPOVO is built around three research lines:
1. Tracking the development of 8 to 14-year-olds.
2. Creating opportunities during the primary to secondary transition.
3. Training educators across the boundaries of primary and secondary education.
Patrick van Schaik is the lead researcher for the third line of research. Together with core members, consisting of (teacher) researchers from various universities of applied sciences and a curriculum expert from SLO (National Institute for Curriculum Development), three research projects are being prepared within this line. These will begin in September 2024.
Firstly, we will conduct a broad survey of the initiatives at both primary teacher training programs (PABOs) and secondary teacher training programs that focus on cross-sector education. An initial exploration has already revealed a wide range of practices, from none to bi-diploma programs. Secondly, we will conduct the same survey for training programs related to teacher education, such as the Master’s in Educational Needs, Pedagogy, etc. The third research question focuses on the educational challenges that arise from the teaching practices for 10 to 14-year-olds or junior colleges in all their variations.
**Splitting PABOs?**
This spring, the Dutch House of Representatives passed a motion to split the PABO into two versions: one for Young Children and one for Older Children. On behalf of both LEPOVO and LEJK (National Expertise Center for Young Children), Patrick van Schaik wrote a letter to the House of Representatives in which both centers expressed their objections to the proposed split. You can read this letter here.
Want to know more? Follow developments at www.lepovo.nl.
