The number of students in The Netherlands with a study delay has risen by at least 54,000 compared to 2018
With regulations around the Coronavirus shutting universities across the Netherlands, ResearchNed’s headline figures are hardly surprising. The increase is a direct result of the Coronavirus measures, according to the Interurban Student Consultation (ISO). Chairman of the ISO Kees Gillesse says: “Study delays cost a lot of money. We are also concerned about the quality of education. It would be really helpful if more physical education could take place again. ”
The figures show that there are at least 54,000 more students this year who indicate that they are lagging behind their study program than two years ago. The main reasons for the study delay seem to be the loss of lessons, lack of own facilities at home, a lack of laboratory and practical training and internships.
Gillesse: “In every classroom at the university there is someone with extra study delay. These figures are higher at the universities of applied sciences: this concerns almost three students per classroom. We suspect that this difference is caused by more practical education and internships in the curriculum in higher professional education. ”
The results show that nearly sixty percent of the students are positive about the way in which the institution organised education during the Coronavirus outbreak.
However, three quarters of the students indicate that they think the form of education is worse than usual. More than twenty percent of the students indicate that part of their education has been canceled or has stopped: for students with a lot of laboratory or practical education this rises to forty percent.
In addition, it is the research has shown that students with a lack of facilities at home miss education much more often, perhaps obviously. Finally, more than thirty percent of the students indicate that they have obtained fewer credits due to the measures.
The student organisation also points out the costs. “A month’s study delay quickly costs a student living away from home more than a thousand euros extra. It is really important that study backlogs are avoided as much as possible. ”
Image of a lecture hall via Wikimedia user Xbxg32000. License here.
