Cutbacks in practical learning continues: apprenticeships under threat
The cut of 7 million euros on the subsidy for practical learning in MBO will continue. The cabinet may make even more cuts, warns the Stichting Samenwerking Beroepsonderwijs Bedrijfsleven (SBB). AObdirector Tamar van Gelder calls the cutbacks 'absurd'.
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Welders, carpenters and mechanics often learn their trade in practice. They spend 80 percent of their study time at a company and they go to school for one day. This is called the vocational training pathway (BBL). This school year there are almost 108 thousand BBL students, according to figures from the SBB. The subsidy stimulates companies to offer apprenticeships. They can receive a subsidy for the supervision of a student.
In the spring memorandum, the cabinet announced that it would cut back 7 million euros on the subsidy for practical learning. The SP did not want to hear about it and served an amendment in to reverse the cut. On 5 July, a majority in the House of Representatives proved to be just short of the amendment: the coalition voted against the amendment with 76 votes.
According to the SP, the cutbacks mean that the BBL students who are learning in practice now have to sit in class again. While learning is useful in practice. "Thousands of young people, future professionals who are needed, are the victims," tweeted SP MP Mahir Alkaya after the vote.
Thousands of young people, future professionals who are needed, are the victims
The SP was supported by various organizations, such as the representative of the MBO school boards; the MBO council, SME Netherlands, Building the Netherlands, VNO-NCW de AOb and the SBB. On their websites they called on the House of Representatives to support the SP amendment.
Shorten
The organizations are afraid that, in addition to the 7 million euros, the cabinet will want to cut even more on the funding for practical learning. In early July, the SBB warned and SME Netherlands for this a press release. Tens of thousands of apprenticeships would be at risk, because the cabinet wants to cut the subsidy in addition to the 7 million euros, according to the SBB. This has 'disastrous consequences', the SBB wrote. One in five apprenticeships will disappear and training companies indicate that they can offer 40 thousand fewer apprenticeships.
“There is a danger that BBL students will no longer be able to find an apprenticeship,” says Ton Heerts chairman of the employers' association MBO council and duo chairman of SBB. The result is that schools cannot start training. “A relatively small amount for the subsidy from the training company can make a lifelong difference for many young people and adults,” says Heerts.
Opportunities
MKB-Nederland is also against the cutbacks. The high supervision investments cannot be afforded by small and medium-sized companies if the subsidy ceases, according to MKB. Also the AOb is against the cutbacks. AObdirector Van Gelder: “This cabinet is depriving people of the opportunity for practical training, while all administrative agreements insist on the connection of education to the labor market. Without a subsidy, the step for training companies to guide students will be a big one.”
Op the website The subsidy operator states that the current scheme will run until the end of this year. A decision about the new scheme will follow in the summer of 2018.
Update July 13, 2018:
Minister van Engelshoven made up with a letter announced to the House of Representatives that the scheme will still exist in 2019. It is unclear how much money the minister will allocate for the subsidy and whether employers can still make use of the scheme after 2019. This will be announced with Prinsjesdag.
