Shared problems, diverging solutions: experts on the Dutch field of education

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of the Dutch field of education by drawing on interviews and observations from long-lasting relationships with experts in the field. Studying how these “key players” discuss the educational field, we explore how the lack of effective solutions may be related to the ways in which leading educational experts make sense of the educational system and its ailments, as well as what they see as promising solutions. We find that experts concur on the main logics of the educational field but assess the main problems and solutions differently. Despite experts being professionally situated within the same field, their views on the biggest issues and potentially effective measures to counteract them diverge strongly. This article concludes that this lack of consistency in problem assessment of our respondents may suggest why certain flaws of the educational field are difficult to address and hence remain salient.