WILLEMSTAD – Starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, the EFO test will no longer be used as the basis for school recommendations when students transition from primary to secondary education. Instead, the renewed Educational Report (Onderwijskundig Rapport, OKR) will serve as the foundation for determining student placement.

The EFO test was administered for the last time in the 2024-2025 school year. The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport decided to discontinue it after concluding that the test had become too dominant in practice, even though it was intended only as a supporting tool for schools. The new OKR is designed to provide a broader and more nuanced picture of students by considering not only academic performance but also their talents, interests, and overall development.

The updated report is the result of months of collaboration with schools, teachers, and school leaders. Through pilot programs and working sessions, an instrument was created that the ministry says better reflects the realities of the classroom.

To support teachers, the ministry will introduce a guide with clear profiles tailored to HAVO, VSBO, and AGO education. In addition, training will be provided on completing the digital report and recognizing unconscious biases. The new OKR will be available on the CLOA digital platform in November, ensuring safe submission and processing by schools.

The 2025-2026 school year will serve as a transition period in which the new system will be monitored and adjusted where necessary. At the same time, the ministry is exploring the introduction of a new, independent final test, potentially starting in the 2026-2027 school year. This assessment could be modeled on the transition test currently in use on Bonaire.

The first consultation groups with school boards are scheduled for October 2025, followed by teacher training sessions in November.