According to a recent OECD study, the Netherlands ranks fifth among 31 countries in adult language proficiency, numeracy, and problem-solving skills. Only Finland, Japan, Sweden, and Norway scored higher.
The Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC), conducted once every ten years, involved around 4,000 participants in the Netherlands representative of the general population. The study focused on practical skills, assessing abilities like using a route planner, signing up for a sports day, and calculating mortgage interest.
Despite the high overall scores, the Netherlands has a significant number of adults with low basic skills. Approximately 15.9% of 16 to 65-year-olds (about 1.8 million people) struggle with reading longer texts and comparing different types of information. A similar percentage faces challenges with numeracy. Notably, the majority of individuals with low basic skills are either older adults or those for whom Dutch is a second language.
State Secretary Mariëlle Paul emphasized the importance of improving these skills, stating, "Everyone must be able to participate fully in our society."
Source: NOS