Education minister Jet Bussemaker wants colleges and universities to be able to expel failing students in the second and third year of their courses.

At the moment, only students in their first year of higher education are told to give up their studies if they are falling behind. Bussemaker wants this to be introduced for second and third year students as well, she told MPs in a briefing on Tuesday.

The minister is planning to experiment with this new policy with students who start their university or college course after this summer or in the 2014 academic year.

Bussemaker hopes the move will increase the tempo in which students finish their courses. Most Dutch bachelor degrees are supposed to be completed in three but many students take longer.

Fourth year students will not be affected.

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