AOb does not want hybrid lessons in primary education before the Christmas holidays
If the cabinet decides to close primary schools next week, schools should not be obliged to provide hybrid education. “It is impossible to organize this in such a short time”, says AObchairman Tamar van Gelder.
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What the AOb As far as concerns are concerned, if the cabinet closes primary education next week, the schools will only be open for emergency care for children of parents with crucial professions. “The practice of the past year and a half shows that hybrid education, for children from emergency care in the classroom and at the same time for the rest of the students online, is the worst of both worlds,” says AObdirector Thijs Roovers.
Roovers: “Hybrid education places an unbelievably heavy burden on the teachers. And to the students, because nobody gets what he or she needs. And to the parents, who have to guide the children at home with online learning. And to the children in disadvantaged situations, who sometimes do not even have a laptop at their disposal.”
It really is a mop policy, the cabinet just does something
Roovers also finds it incomprehensible that the decision whether or not to close primary schools a week earlier will only be made this afternoon. “It really is a mop policy. Last Thursday, Minister Slob stated that he wants to keep the schools open. But yesterday Hugo de Jonge hinted on television that the schools will probably close after all. There is always a rotation, there is a lack of vision and clarity: the cabinet just does what it takes.”
And that lack of clarity is now 'up to here', says Roovers. “A different message every day. You cannot expect teachers, parents and students to switch to another type of education within three days. Not to mention the fact that hybrid education is a very limited, poor form of education.”
Omikron
De AOb calls on the cabinet to finally come up with a clear vision on secondary education. Chairman Tamar van Gelder: “Omikron does not stop at twelve-year-olds. Older children also go to Christmas dinner, where they can infect grandparents. Why then should different rules apply to secondary education than to primary education? Perhaps there is a good explanation for this, but give it. Now it remains completely unclear.”
According to Van Gelder, there is also an unworkable situation in secondary education. “High work pressure, class cancellations due to testing, quarantine and illness. And because of the growing teacher shortage. A lot of people are about to fall over.”
Don't overwhelm people in schools with half-baked last-minute measures and unclear policies
According to van Gelder, schools could use the week before Christmas to co2 meters and arrange the ventilation. "And that of course applies to the entire education, from primary school to university education. Just like our call for teachers who want boost to give."
Consultation
And have proper consultations with the professional field, so with organizations that represent teachers - such as the AOb, says Rovers. “Slob often says that he has 'talked to teachers' and that is why he makes a certain decision. Which just happens to be right up his alley. While we really receive different signals from our own members.”
Above all, Roovers longs for clarity: “Don't attack the people in the schools with all kinds of half-baked last-minute measures and with unclear policy. Because then the teachers are allowed to fight with parents again on Monday morning at half past eight about what is or is not allowed.”
Together
The PO Council and the trade unions AVS, CNV Onderwijs and FvOv also believe that the cabinet's decision about the possible closure of schools comes too late. 'Organizing distance learning can no longer be asked of schools in this short term', the employers and all trade unions write in a joint statement. 'Particular attention is also needed for special and residential education, where teaching staff have to deal with many vulnerable children.'
“In recent weeks, a lot has been expected of education with ever-changing measures,” the organizations write. 'The unrest this causes is at the expense of the attention that schools can devote to teaching children.
If it is decided to close schools, we call on the government to encourage parents to take emergency leave.'
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