'Boarded-up report complicates discussion about education system'
A 'plea for major overhaul of the Dutch education system'. This is what the initiative group Future of our education calls the discussion paper it presented last month. AObchairman Eugenie Stolk: "There is far too much direction, which makes an open discussion more difficult."
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The report was published last January Future of our education. In the media the emphasis was on 'the new middle school', postponing the final choice of school until the age of fourteen or fifteen, for example. But the report from employers, education unions, pupils and students is about much more. Also about the curriculum and order. About competence, training and further training of teachers.
Education pact
In the initial phase, the AOb involved in discussions about the 'education pact' as the proposals for the major maintenance were initially called. While the employers' organizations and various education unions did endorse the mindset, the AOb off.
If you want to discuss the future of education, you have to be open
Why? AObChairman Eugenie Stolk: “In short, our criticism boils down to the fact that the Future of Our Education proposal is presented as a discussion piece, but in practice it is already very boarded up. If you want to discuss the future of education, you have to be more open and willing to explore more scenarios. There appeared to be no room for this. We do not want to go into the country with such a piece, but members who want to think seriously about the future of education do not accept that. ”
Does this abstract discussion make sense if the entire education system is struggling with teacher shortages?
A series of themed meetings has now been planned about the piece. Relatively few teachers were present at the first. Does this abstract discussion make sense if the entire education is struggling with teacher shortages, one teacher present wondered.
Happily surprised
“Exactly. At the moment, the future of our education mainly depends on solving the teacher shortage ”, Stolk responds. “We will have to come up with creative solutions for this, if we want to guarantee good education for all children. For example, I was pleasantly surprised with the initiative of the Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen to combine the teacher training college and the physical education academy. In this way, starters receive two courses and competences. ”
Experiences in MBO with such a broad competence are not always positive
It is precisely with regard to courses and competences that the report makes far-reaching proposals: one system for basic education. Stolk: “Yes, a complete overhaul of the powers in line with the ideas of the Education Council. The idea is that this will make the teaching profession more attractive and facilitate progression within education. A thought that can be questioned a lot, there are really many differences between primary and secondary education. Moreover, the experiences in MBO with such a very broad competence are not always that positive. There is a clear emphasis on flexibility. With competences, with learning routes of students. Clearly a wish of the employers in education, they put a stamp on the report, which we do not share. ”
Equal opportunities
During the presentation of the report, the emphasis was on more equal opportunities in education. There the AOb not against it, right? "Certainly not. Offering students equal opportunities is in our DNA as an association. It is worrying how we see equality in education decreasing. A friend of mine has done mavo, havo, vwo, hbo and then university. A route that has now become virtually impossible. You also see that broad schools are becoming narrow schools, with separate VMBO and HAVO/VWO buildings. It is right that attention is being paid to equal opportunities. But what you saw is that the solution was presented uniformly. And you can see that you through the entire report. Artificial intelligence in education, it is put forward as a useful tool without too much discussion, while education researchers question this. I can go on like this for a while."
There must be consensus within the profession about changes
And are there any topics missing in the discussion? "Certainly, first of all there must be consensus within the professional group about changes. Too many innovations have been implemented without that consensus and if you only outline one route in the report, then you miss the reality. Furthermore, a investment plan, something where the AOb pleads for. We question the lump sum financing, but the report completely avoids that subject."
