Journal
CEFR Journal - Research and Practice
Volume: CEFR Journal - Research and Practice Volume 8 (February 2026)
Date: 2026
Title: Rethinking modern language education in the Netherlands: The CEFR as a compass for national targets
Page: 75 - 84
Authors: Daniela Fasoglio (Netherlands Institute for Curriculum Development (SLO), Netherlands)
https://doi.org/10.37546/JALTSIG.CEFR8-9
NOT YET ACTIVATED
This article is open access and licensed under an Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license.
Abstract: The Netherlands has been engaged in an ongoing debate about the need for curriculum reform. In 2021, the Dutch Ministry of Education commissioned the Netherlands Institute for Curriculum Development (SLO) to review national learning objectives, focusing on three key educational domains: qualification, socialization, and subjectification (Biesta 2020). One of the main challenges for modern language education lies in integrating the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) into the national learning targets while ensuring alignment with broader curriculum principles. A preliminary study (Fasoglio and Tammenga 2021) explored several scenarios based on quality criteria such as equity, horizontal and vertical alignment, and curricular coherence. A subsequent case study involving language teachers applied the methodology outlined in Aligning Language Education with the CEFR (British Council et al. 2022) to identify attainable proficiency levels for upper secondary education. As the process moves beyond the design phase, maintaining curriculum quality remains a key priority and depends on close collaboration among curriculum developers, school leaders, teachers, educational publishers, and test developers. Ensuring alignment between learning goals, pedagogy, and assessment is essential (Biggs and Tang 2011). Assessment, in particular, should promote coherence between the CEFR’s vision of language learning and use and the goals of the national curriculum.
Keywords: curriculum reform, CEFR, modern language education, curriculum alignment, assessment
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(Update March 10th, 2026 MGS)
