The Hague (Netherlands),10th April 2025 | The event “Educational Pluralism: Global Challenges and the Dutch Case,” held at Nieuwspoort, The Hague, addressed the challenges and opportunities of educational pluralism both globally and in the Netherlands. Organized by OIDEL and VERUS, the meeting brought together experts in educational policy, UNESCO representatives, and Dutch parliamentarians, including Don Ceder, of the Christian Union (Christian-democratic political party in the Netherlands), and Harmen Krul, from the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA).
In this context, the Netherlands ranks among the top countries in the world in terms of educational freedom, according to the latest edition of the Freedom of Education Index. However, increasing pressure from the government, social polarization, and a lack of understanding regarding the true meaning of educational freedom raise urgent questions: How do we preserve this freedom? And how do we ensure that it continues to function as a valuable foundation for our pluralistic society?
Among the speakers were Gwang-Chol Chang (Chief of the Education Policy Section at UNESCO), Mark Buck (Chair of Verus), Ignasi Grau (Director of OIDEL), Teresa Martínez (President of OIDEL), Kathleen Ferrier (Chair of the Netherlands National Commission for UNESCO) and Arja Krauchenberg (Project Coordinator of the European Parents Association), who emphasized the importance of defending parental rights and the fundamental role they play in ensuring accountability in educational systems.
For her part, Ashley Rogers Berner (Director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy and member of the Executive Committee of OIDEL) highlighted that educational pluralism requires a delicate balance between the state, civil society, and families.
Also participating in the event were Jan de Groof (Professor at the University of Bologna), Josyane Zingg (Advocacy and Training Officer at OIDEL), and Niels Rijke (Expert in Educational Policy and Human Rights).