AOb gives MPs nine recommendations for better education
Extra money is needed for structural measures to make education an attractive sector again. AObchairman Liesbeth Verheggen makes nine recommendations in a letter to the House of Representatives. The workload must be reduced, the AOb wants market-based salaries, never a zero line again, and the salary gap between primary and secondary education must be closed.
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That writes Verheggen in a letter to the House of Representatives. Today is the first part of the debate on the education budget in which the education spokespersons of the political parties provide their input. The education ministers will respond on Thursday.
De AOb calls on MPs to work towards a better and more stable situation in education. 'The workload must be reduced for all education sectors and salaries must be in line with the market,' writes Verheggen. It is necessary to invest extra money in education in the coming years, especially in view of the teacher shortages.
Work pressure must be reduced for all education sectors and salaries must be in line with the market
That is why Verheggen also asks for the cutback of 183 million euros to be scrapped. Education is currently unable to absorb this 'efficiency discount'. 'How does the minister prevent this discount from being at the expense of the primary process?', Verheggen writes. The Education Foundation, where the AOb works together with other unions and employers, argues in a letter also for reversing this cut.
In addition, there must be more insight into how the education money is spent. The AOb considers it necessary to set spending conditions.
Less teaching hours
Money is also needed in secondary education. For example, to reduce the number of teaching hours to twenty, and thus reduce the workload for teachers. A first step has been taken with the new CLA for secondary education, according to the AOb. 'In the short term, 180 million euros is needed to be able to take the next step.'
Verheggen also advocates making the 'space letter' public. This letter states how much money there is to negotiate in the collective labor agreement. The contents of this letter are now not public.
Read all recommendations in the letter of the AOb. The debate on the education budget in the House of Representatives starts at 16.40 pm.
