'Important role of teachers in subsidy for corona arrears'
Schools for primary, secondary, special and secondary vocational education and adult education receive funding for programs to overcome corona educational disadvantages. Teachers and educators play an important role in designing those programs. Subsidy for the first tranche must be applied for before 21 June.
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In total there is almost 250 million euros subsidy available for eliminating educational disadvantages caused by the corona crisis. With this amount, schools can set up programs to deal with the arrears of pupils and students.
There is a lot of freedom in setting up these programs. Each program will include, on average, at least 30 hours of tutoring or support for a learner, under grant rules.
If teachers carry out a make-up program outside regular school hours, they may receive appropriate financial compensation
Schools themselves decide which pupils are given the opportunity to participate in the program. 'It is obvious that this will be done on the recommendation of their own teachers or the mentor', the ministry writes. 'After all, they have the best idea of which pupils would benefit from a catch-up and support program, and of the required content and implementation of such a program.'
900 €
The subsidy scheme is based on an amount of 900 euros per student. The subsidy may be applied for for a maximum of 10 percent of the pupils, and a maximum of 20 percent of the pupils in disadvantaged schools. In MBO, almost half of the subsidy is divided on the basis of the number of students from a so-called 'poverty problem accumulation area'.
Salary
The subsidy is intended for 'all costs that must reasonably be incurred for the catch-up and support program', such as material costs, the rent of space and for additional salary costs. 'Your own teachers or lecturers cannot be obliged to carry out a catch-up and support program outside regular school hours,' writes the national government. "If they are willing to do so and they receive appropriate financial compensation, they are eligible costs under this scheme."
Summer schools
There are three time slots within which catch-up and support programs must be offered. The first period is July 1 to December 31, and is mainly intended for schools that are already working on a program that partly falls during the summer holidays - such as summer schools. Applications for this first period must be received and accepted before 21 June here be submitted.
The application must include a description of the program of no more than 250 words
Schools that want to organize an offer that falls entirely after the summer holidays are advised to apply for a subsidy in the second period. This runs from October 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021. Applications for this period can be submitted from August 18, 2020 to September 15, 2020. If budget is still available after that, there will be a third period.
Map
According to the national government, it is not necessary to submit an extensive plan to apply for the subsidy. 'A short description (maximum 250 words) of the intended content of the program must be given with the application.' Schools may submit one application per term.
Good examples for secondary education are through the VO council here to find.
