Bonus for broad seventh grade in Amsterdam
The municipality of Amsterdam will use 11,4 million euros to tackle the inequality of opportunities. Education alderman Marjolein Moorman (PvdA) wants to do this, among other things, by offering a bonus to schools with a broad first year, where students of different educational levels attend. She also wants childcare organizations, pre-schools and primary schools to work closely together so that there are smoother transitions.
Image: Municipality of Amsterdam
This week Moorman made her new action points known with a policy document. 'In addition to many beautiful things, the city also offers challenges for education. The differences between people in the city are sometimes large, 'writes the education councilor. 'In order to reduce growing differences between the development of children, it is necessary to also look at the obstacles in the education system.'
Reduce thresholds
She wants to counter the inequality of opportunities by smoothing transitions in education and by reducing barriers between types of education. A broad seventh grade, so that students only make a final educational choice later, is one of Moorman's action points. The municipality is earmarking 950 euros for the 'broad first class bonus' and 600 euros to tackle the image surrounding broad schools and broad first classes. 'The fact that children already choose a school type at the age of twelve and the thresholds for stacking increases the inequality of opportunities in education,' writes the education councilor.
The fact that children already choose a school type at the age of XNUMX and the barriers that are there to overcome increase the inequality of opportunity in education
With the bonus, schools that currently have homogeneous groups can make their transition classes more heterogeneous, bringing students of different levels together. Only schools that offer at least three levels of education - VMBO, HAVO and VWO - can claim a bonus.
Broad bridge classes also ensure that groups of students are less separated from each other, as is often the case now. According to the alderman, the number of categorical schools has been growing in recent years, as a result of which pupils come into contact with each other less.
Partnerships
In addition to the bonus for broad bridging classes, the municipality of Amsterdam is committed to better and above all more intensive cooperation between pre-schools, childcare organizations, after-school care and primary schools. 'Everything in one school', this point is called in the policy. If these organizations link up better and work from a single pedagogical-didactic vision, they will ensure a smooth transition.
Another part of the commitment is the 'Family School', which offers support to the whole family. The school cooperates with social organizations in this regard. Eight primary schools and one secondary school in neighborhoods with many problems, such as poverty, language deficiencies and parenting problems, will receive funding for four years to combat inequality of opportunity. 'The Amsterdam Family School is a place where pupils learn broadly and where parents are intensively involved. Especially for children who get less from home, more is needed at school than just education.'
The 11,4 million euros is available from this year to 2023.
