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On Friday 9th January, the programme Eerst de Klas (EDK) celebrated its fifth anniversary with all alumni during a gathering at the EYE Film Institute in Amsterdam. EDK started in 2009 as a trainee programme for excellent academics, who have the opportunity to gain teaching experience for two years, obtain their teaching qualifications, and participate in a leadership programme one day a week. Now, five years later, 150 Eerst de Klas participants have obtained their first-degree teaching qualification, with around 50 more to follow in 2015. Together, they have taught or are still teaching more than 44,000 students.
Dialogic was present at the gathering and presented the findings of the recently conducted impact assessment of the programme. The aim was to gain a more explicit understanding of the outcomes of the programme thus far. This involved desk research, an online survey of alumni, current participants, and involved schools, interviews, and a concise number of case studies, following previous interim assessments.
The report concludes that while the quantitative impact of the programme is somewhat limited, it primarily serves as a quality boost for education. The EDK participants are seen as a source of inspiration: they often take on extra responsibilities, offer a fresh perspective on educational matters, and provide innovative input. Furthermore, three-quarters of the alumni would have never pursued a career in education without Eerst de Klas. It is also assumed that the programme has a positive effect on the public image of teaching.