'Give teachers the space to start education after corona'
Teachers and other education professionals must be given 'the opportunity and space to organize what is needed' when starting education. The Education Council recommends this to Minister Arie Slob. “Getting rid of the arrears that students have incurred is custom work,” says AObchairman Eugenie Stolk. "You have to give the teachers every opportunity for that."
picture: Type tank
Many schools and teachers are currently preparing for a possible reopening of the schools. However, a relaxation of the quarantine measures is awaited. “With the current guidelines of one and a half meters it is not possible to restart the schools,” says AObchairman Stolk. "Our members are crystal clear about that."
Learning loss
Once quarantine measures are relaxed, the first priority is to get all students back in the picture. Subsequently, the arrears are identified. That is quite a job, the Education Council expects. 'How to deal with learning loss and the psychological impact of the crisis? And what to do with pupils who are now going to enroll in other grades and further education in an unusual way? '
Not all students have fallen behind in the same way and need the same approach. Leave that customization to the teacher
The council advises Minister of Education Slob to open a central information and support point about the restart of the schools. 'All education professionals benefit if the knowledge and experience of educational research and educational practice are quickly available.' A helpdesk should also be linked to this information point. 'The desk of www.lesopsence.nl can be expanded for this purpose', according to the council. The council also recommends that the minister monitor what schools do and how effective it is.
Unsafe
For children and young people in an unstable or unsafe home situation, schools could provide summer programs - such as summer schools - with 'a rich and wide range'. And if schools remain (partially) closed after the May holidays, consideration can be given to 'handling the summer holidays differently', the council writes. 'Look at the pros and cons from the perspective of students and parents as well as people who work in education.'
Summer schools
“Sixty percent of our members think summer school is not the right way to catch up,” says AObchairman Stolk. “Eliminating arrears depends on the individual student and the school. Summer schools are already being set up here and there in deprived areas, but not all pupils have fallen behind in the same way and need the same approach. This is real customization - leave that to the teacher.”
Drastic
"Education is going through unprecedented times," says Edith Hooge, chairman of the Education Council. is acute and what can be done later. Consider what is realistic for the educational field, parents and students."
