House: rejecting weak students allowed

House: rejecting weak students allowed

Drawing lots for admission to a popular study with numerus fixus? That is allowed, the Dutch House of Representatives thinks, but programmes should first be given the chance to reject weak students. The bill on lottery has been amended despite principled objections from Education Minister Dijkgraaf.

Dijkgraaf proposed three options: a blind draw for all candidates, a weighted draw (with higher chances for the best candidates) and draw after selection of the best candidates. The Lower House wants a fourth option: admitting the best candidates and rejecting the weakest, so that you can draw lots in the middle group. Then more students would end up in the ‘right place’.

An amendment to this effect was tabled by VVD, CDA and ChristenUnie together with SGP and JA21. It was adopted on Tuesday afternoon. The bill itself has not yet been voted on. After this amendment, the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA) wants to have some time to reflect. Basically, the party welcomes the return of drawing lots, but perhaps not in this way. The vote has been postponed to next week.

^{Amendment adopted: choose best candidates, reject weakest and then draw lots in middle group. Green is in favour, red is against.}

Minister Dijkgraaf had a few objections. There is no middle group at all, he thinks. You can select the top, but there is no clear tail. Moreover, he thinks it is wrong to reject candidates with the right diploma. (HOP, BB)