Schoollaag

Schoollaag is a term found in Dutch-language discussions of education policy and school-system organization. It refers to the idea of the schooling landscape being arranged in layered or tiered structures that combine educational stages, governance, and catchment arrangements within a given area.

In practice, a schoollaag can denote several related concepts. One common interpretation is the division of the education system into distinct layers by educational stage: a base primary layer with basisscholen, a secondary layer comprising voortgezet onderwijs (such as vmbo, havo, and vwo), and additional layers for vocational education, special education facilities, or alternative schooling networks. The term is also used to describe geographic layering, where catchment areas are aligned with specific school layers, and student pathways are organized across layers to reflect progression or transitions between schools.

Administrative and policy dimensions are another aspect of a schoollaag. Layered governance can involve different levels of authority, such as municipal, regional, and national bodies, each responsible for particular layers of the system. The concept is employed in analyses of resource distribution, school funding, curriculum alignment, and transition policies that connect early education to later stages.

Critically, the notion of schoollagen highlights both planning advantages and potential equity concerns. While layering can support targeted resource allocation and clear progression paths, it may also reinforce segregation if layers become strongly associated with neighborhood or socioeconomic characteristics.

See also: school zoning, education policy, catchment area, school governance. The term’s exact usage and definitions can vary by country and context.