Further, about 40 percent of schools offer targeted incentives to young language-delayed children. Almost one in four schools introduce children in the lower forms to information and communications technology. Extra facilities in vocational education Vocational education in the Netherlands will broaden its scope to ensure that no pupil under the age of 18 falls between two stools. Pupils will be targeted who have left secondary education but who at that stage are still unable to successfully complete a vocational education programme. Dr Jo Ritzen's new approach means that from now on regional centres for vocational education can also offer courses for occupations which are in short supply in the region, such as ethnic hairdressing and the islamic butcher trade.
Institutions offer modular credit pathways geared towards the labour market.
Further, pupils who are likely to drop out have the opportunity of taking part in preliminary and support activities within the vocational programme for a longer period. A pilot project involving pathway supervisors is being planned for pupils who are likely to leave school prematurely. The supervisors will put together tailor-made pathways incorporating existing regional facilities offered by educational institutions, municipalities, employment offices and social workers. Pupils on the point of leaving secondary schools in the Netherlands compare very favourably with pupils in other countries in terms of their basic knowledge of science and maths. This is an international comparative study into the results of education in mathematics and science subjects.