New functions in primary education lay the foundation for better salary
Job descriptions in primary education are going to change completely. The new functions should better take into account the many tasks that teachers perform. AObdirector Eugenie Stolk explains what is changing and especially wants to know whether teachers recognize themselves in the new positions. Therefore, complete the internet consultation before 15 May!
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Most teachers who now come from primary school and start primary school end up in the LA scale. That is currently the standard position in which the vast majority of teachers are classified. In addition, there are the higher positions LB or LC that have far fewer staff.
What will change?
“We have examined the current job descriptions together with the other unions and the school administrators. We did this together with an expert who knows everything about functions, their evaluation and with the teachers themselves. The bottom line is that the old scales, LA, LB and LC are disappearing. This is replaced by new descriptions 1, 2, 3 and 4. ”
Is there a lot of difference with the old functions?
“You can see that one function has been added at the bottom. At this time, the LA scale is the standard feature. With the new descriptions that will be job 2. The difference is that the salaries for this job are higher than they are now. Teachers in the LA scale come into the new descriptions in job 2 and thus receive more salary.”
Teachers are more appreciated for what they do.
“A higher rating is justified. In recent years, teachers have been given many more tasks. They analyze tests, write action plans, have difficult conversations with parents and they have to communicate with external care institutions for special needs students from their class in connection with appropriate education. The core of the work is more complex and that includes a higher scale and higher salary. The current job descriptions have not been updated since 2006, so this really had to happen.”
Are the new functions completely fixed?
“Not yet, that happens after the internet consultation. For example, we are still negotiating the exact amount of the salary per job description. It is clear that new higher salary scales will be introduced. You can roughly say that the new standard teacher position 2 includes the salary of the current LB teacher in secondary education. We cannot fully realize that alone. The extra budget of 270 million euros is too limited for this. It is not enough to close the salary gap with secondary education. This requires 900 million euros. That is the reason that we are on strike on May 30 in Gelderland and Overijssel. We will see how far we get with this budget. The money that is available has to reach the teachers quickly. ”
Is there anything else you are negotiating about?
"There is more. The new function at the bottom, function 1, is also a point of discussion. Employers prefer to see all new people enter that position first. The AOb believes that if they are ultimately responsible for a group, hold the same parent meetings and write action plans, they should simply be in that new standard position. As far as we are concerned, function 1 is at most for a starter who has no final responsibility and receives a lot of guidance from a colleague. Or for teachers who, for example, only work one day a week, have very limited tasks and are not ultimately responsible for a class.”
Why is there an internet consultation now?
“This is about a major change and has an impact on everyone. We would very much like to know whether teachers identify with the new job descriptions. Especially in that new standard position. We think this feature better reflects all tasks, but is it really the right description? And does it do justice to all tasks? Participate is important. This will eventually be stated in the collective labor agreement. ”
In brief:
The job scales LA, LB and LC disappear. There will be four new functions instead. They are: 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Function 1: Starters who do not have final responsibility for a group.
Function 2: The new standard function. For teachers who teach, write action plans, conduct parent discussions, have special needs students in the classroom, etc. This position is comparable to what is now LA, only the new salary scale will better fit the weight of the position and will be higher than the current LA- salary.
Function 3: For teachers who have a specialization, such as math or ICT. They do more policy work in addition to their teaching position.
Function 4: For teachers who, in addition to their specialization, carry out work at upper school level, conduct scientific research or develop long-term policy.
View full details of the job descriptions at this link. Do you recognize yourself in it? Join in the internet consultation.
