Ontwikkelingen met Betrekking tot het Onderwijs in Eigen Taal en Cultuur: Beleid, Argumenten en Perspectieven

For some 25 years now, ethnic minorities in the Netherlands have been offered the possibility to receive Minority Language and Culture Teaching (MLCT). This paper provides an overview of the policy developments with regard to MLCT. It takes a closer look at the arguments in favour of MLCT, on which that policy is based; the arguments against MLCT in reply to this are also presented. Empirical research results are summarized to explain that the practical conditions under which MLCT has to be organized are not favourable. Within this framework the results of evaluation studies carried out in the Netherlands into MLCT are discussed. Partly on the basis of these results, a number of advisory committees appointed by the government have in recent years come up with various recommendations with regard to the future of MLCT. The conclusion is that this future is not a very optimistic one.