AOb: 'Quality of education is under pressure'
“In the speech from the throne, our king wonders whether 'we and our children can continue to count on good education.' The answer to that question is stated in the Budget Memorandum and is 'no'. ” That's the response of AObchairman Liesbeth Verheggen on the 2019 budget.
“The economy is growing, but education is not benefiting from it,” says Verheggen. “A substantial investment in education, which is much needed, is not forthcoming. And that while schools have to switch to a four-day teaching week because there are too few teachers.”
AObchairperson Liesbeth Verheggen: 'The economy is growing, but education is not benefiting from it'
Macroeconomic surveys by the Central Planning Bureau (CPB) show that the percentage of our prosperity that goes to education is steadily declining. From 5,2 percent in 2016 to 5,0 in 2019. “The need is great,” says Verheggen. “There are too few teachers in primary education because salaries are too low to compete with other sectors. Shortages are also common in special education, secondary education and MBO for some subjects. After the baseline of the crisis years, steps are taken now and then, but the real catch-up is not forthcoming. ”
'Full power'
In the meantime, education ministers Arie Slob (ChristenUnie) and Ingrid van Engelshoven (D66) promise to work 'full steam ahead' on the teacher shortage. Their hope is that part-timers will work more hours en masse. Something that the cabinet sees as an 'opportunity' for the entire public sector in the Budget Memorandum. An interdepartmental working group must look at the obstacles to working more hours. “My suggestion: try it with less work pressure and more salary,” says Verheggen.
Also read the news item: 'Prinsjesdag 2018: new setbacks for education'
