MBO students are given more time to graduate
Minister of Education Ingrid van Engelshoven (D66) is scrapping the negative financial incentive for ROCs if MBO students take longer to complete their studies than is expected. In this way she wants to increase the equity of students.
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In the coalition agreement it became clear last year that the minister wanted to do something about the negative monetary incentives. The legislative change required for this is now open to internet consultation. From next year, schools should no longer be bothered by this.
MBO schools are financially disadvantaged if students attend the school longer than average. It leads to calculating behavior by, for example, refusing 'difficult' students or guiding students to the finish line as quickly as possible.
Own pace
Van Engelshoven wants to reverse this effect and thus improve equity. 'There will be more room for students to stack diplomas or to change programs', the minister writes to the House of Representatives. 'And the most important thing I think is that students in MBO are given the opportunity to get their diploma at their own pace.'
Minister of Education for MBO and higher education Ingrid van Engelshoven (D66): “With this measure I want to promote equality of opportunity in MBO.”
The Education Council and the Social and Economic Council (SER) also warned of the negative effects. The SER particularly pointed to the group of students who follow the vocational training (bbl) track, where programs are often stacked, because these students do not immediately enter a high level. They often stay longer than average in secondary vocational education. The Education Council spoke about risks in equality of opportunity.
At the top
De AOb has always been in favor of abolishing the negative financial incentive. “It is of course absurd that the effect of policy is that students are not admitted to level four, for example, because they will then be in school for a number of extra years for which the school receives less money,” says AObdriver Tamar van Gelder. "This was really at the top of my list and I am glad that the minister has taken action quickly."
