Pupils with a delay in language development or with an insufficient knowledge of the teaching language, often lag behind in several subjects.  This unfair start contributes to inequality in children’s education. Therefore, knowledge of Dutch has become an important criterion at the start of primary education and, as of this school year (2021 - 2021), all children in the third year of pre-primary education will take a language test - the so-called "Koalatest".

The name "Koala" refers to "kindergarten education" (or kleuteronderwijs [KO] in Dutch) and "listening skills" (luistervaardigheid [LA] in Dutch), both focal to the test. The Koala Test consists of seven tasks that start from a recognisable situation in the third year of pre-school: a game with a hoop, a gymnastics lesson, a handicraft task, a messy dining room, a story about bunnies, a classroom library and a birthday in the classroom. The seven tasks are accompanied by complementary activities that children need to carry out. The toddlers do part of the tasks individually and part in a small group of about 5 children. 

After the test, the toddlers receive a score which places them in 1 of 3 colour zones: toddlers in the green zone have sufficient language skills, toddlers in the orange zone may need extra support and toddlers in the red zone probably need intensive guidance.

The screening instrument is part of a broader diagnosis as well as language approach and policy at school. Based on the results of the language screening, pupils who do not have sufficient command of Dutch will have to follow an active language integration pathway in Dutch from school year 2022-2023. This can take on the form of a language immersion or a full-fledged alternative that achieves the same results. 

The schools can count on an additional budget of 12 million euros for additional staff when implementing the Kola test and consequent language measures. The extra investment can be applied on 240 additional fulltime employees.

 

Source:  Eurydice Unit - Belgium Flanders