Junior education minister Sander Dekker has called for a national dialogue to determine the future of the Dutch education system.

Dekker wants the debate to focus on questions about the relevance of school subjects and if school prepares children properly for their future. ‘A child going to school today will apply for their first job in 2032,’ Dekker said. ‘Is that child going to learn what he or she needs to have a flying start?’

‘We often talk about the periphery issues such as class sizes, costs and accommodation. These are important themes but in fact we never talk about what really happens at school – what education entails.’

Dekker hopes the dialogue will involve schools, parents and experts. The initiative includes a ‘national brainstorming session’, regional debates and school information sessions.

The format is based on similar initiatives in Finland, Norway and Scotland which show that the school curriculum is too important to be left to one group, Dekker said.

The onderwijs2032.nl (education 2032) project is being launched on Monday with 15 YouTube films in which various personalities outline their vision of education in the future.