Chapter 6. Conclusion Policy recommendations Based on the findings of this dissertation, several policy recommendations can be formulated. This dissertation concludes that early basic skills are highly relevant. In the long run, they serve as strong predictors of various life outcomes. Therefore, it is crucial for policymakers to closelymonitor basic skill proficiency, as it can serve as an early warning signal for future societal challenges. Achieving this awareness requires comprehensive and systematic tracking of basic skills. Regular testing is essential for schools to track student progress, but several challenges threaten its continuity (e.g., increased teacher workload, growing resistance to standardized testing, etc.). Despite these challenges, maintaining regular testing is crucial to ensure students receive the necessary support for their learning. Moreover, this dissertation has largely been made possible through the availability of such information, underscoring their value in generating academic insights. Building on this, regular reporting on literacy and numeracy proficiency should be continued for translating these academic insights into practical insights, helping educators and policymakers see the importance of testing, and keeping these skills at the forefront of policy discussions. This could also be achieved by drawing attention to existing international benchmarks such as PISA, TIMSS, and PIRLS. Early basic skill proficiency seems also important in the short run, as there is strong persistence in basic skill levels. Therefore, policymakers shouldinvest in the development of these skills. In the first place, students should be supported in the development of their language and math 148
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