Ministers: 'No extra money for teachers' grant'
Education ministers Arie Slob and Ingrid van Engelshoven cannot make money available to give a teacher scholarship to 2400 rejected teachers. The ministers report this to the Lower House, which had asked for extra money in a motion.
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There was this year less money in the pot for the teacher grant than in previous years. Minister Slob, with the knowledge of the House of Representatives, transferred 28 million from the teachers' grant to side entry programs and the training for teaching assistants. This left 50 million euros for the stock exchange. That turned out to be far too little to grant all applications for this year's scholarship, leaving 2400 teachers out of the way.
Wrong leg
The House swears that it was never warned by the ministry that there would be too little money left to honor all applications. “We have been misled by the minister,” said D66 MP Paul van Meenen in early August. After which D66, GroenLinks, SP and PvdA asked the minister in a motion to look for extra money.
Greenhouse slide
Ministers Slob and Van Engelshoven investigated various options for releasing money, including a cash slide (bringing forward next year's money), lowering the lump sum and releasing money in the Autumn 2020. 'None of those options is desirable or possible, 'the ministers write to the Lower House. Teachers who missed the mark this year will get priority next year.
