Doorstroom

Doorstroom is a term used in education to describe the progression of students through the learning system. It refers to the rate at which learners move from one grade, level, or stage to the next within the standard educational trajectory, typically without repeating a year or dropping out. In this sense, doorstroom reflects the smoothness and efficiency of a system’s progression pathways.

In primary and secondary education, doorstroom is an important indicator of system performance. Schools monitor the proportion of students who advance on time to the next year or level, with higher doorstroom rates generally associated with effective instruction, early intervention for struggling pupils, and appropriate placement decisions. Low doorstroom rates can point to bottlenecks in transitions between levels or insufficient support for at-risk students.

In higher education and vocational training, the term is also used to describe throughput. Here doorstroom refers to the share of students who complete a program within the nominal study duration, or within a closely defined period. This measure helps policymakers and institutions assess program efficiency, retention, and time-to-degree, and it is often used alongside other indicators such as graduation rates and post-graduation outcomes.

Policy and research use: Doorstroom metrics are collected by education authorities, inspection bodies, and educational institutions to compare cohorts, evaluate reforms, and guide resource allocation. They are most meaningful when interpreted in the context of student intake, tracking practices, regional differences, and broader educational goals.

Limitations: Doorstroom statistics can be influenced by selection effects, policy changes, and tracking practices. They do not directly measure learning outcomes or student well-being and should be complemented with other indicators for a fuller picture.