Opening primary schools garnered political support, but also concern
The cabinet decision to reopen primary education from 11 May received broad support from the Lower House today. At the same time, there are many questions about the protection of vulnerable groups, the workload of teachers and the available testing capacity for teaching staff.
Picture: House of Representatives
An important condition for the reopening of primary schools is that teachers can have themselves tested 'easily' if they have complaints. “Is there enough test material?” Asked CDA party chairman Pieter Heerma. Other parties, including D66, SP and the PvdA, also asked about it. “Some teachers feel like a guinea pig, there must be sufficient testing capacity. You still have three weeks to arrange this ”, PvdA party leader Lodewijk Asscher urged the cabinet.
According to Prime Minister Rutte, this testing capacity will be sufficient: “If a teacher has a cold and is concerned, there is a testing system. Teaching staff who have direct contact with students will be treated in the same way as healthcare staff. Those tests are there, the capacity is there. ” Tonight the prime minister limited himself mainly to the main points, next week an extensive education debate is planned with education minister Arie Slob.
Day parts
There are also concerns about the burden of teaching in the one and a half meter society. According to the cabinet, schools in primary education should 'as much as possible' maintain that distance in the contact between children and adults. To make this possible, the idea is that primary schools halve and spread the groups, so that fewer children come to school and class at the same time. “The news that the schools are reopening has been welcomed in many families. But what does that mean for the workload of teachers ”, asked faction leader Gert-Jan Segers of coalition party ChristenUnie.
The prime minister emphasized that schools must be given the space to prepare education in the coming weeks. "They will do this with participation councils, in close consultation with teachers and parents," says Rutte. "How they shape education exactly, that is really up to the schools themselves." "Of course with concerns and many questions, I understand that. What we want to achieve is that a lot of customization is possible to get started from May 11."
This customization also applies to secondary education, where schools are expected to maintain a distance of a meter and a half between students when they open their doors from June. Rutte: "That's why I say to secondary schools: think about how you can open again around 1 June." According to the prime minister, this should not lead to freedom and happiness, but also not to a feeling of: find out.
Now start a conversation with the school, let the school inform you how they organize education
Parents who want to keep their child at home out of fear should not immediately expect a school attendance officer on their doorstep. “Now enter into a conversation with the school, let the school inform you how they organize education, contact the mr,” Rutte responded. PVV leader Geert Wilders, who thinks it is still too early to open schools, then asked whether there really will be no action against parents who still like to keep their children at home. “I will not answer that yet,” said Rutte. “I first want to see how those talks go in the coming weeks.”
