Transitioning VSO to secondary education is complex
A new law is being drawn up that will make secondary special education (VSO) subject to the collective labor agreement and legislation of secondary education. Teachers are happy, but also have concerns about their competences.
Image: Angeliek de Jonge
At the school of teacher Nanda van Hoek there were flowers and cake. The news that in a new law, which still has to be made, secondary special education (VSO) will henceforth fall under the collective labor agreement and legislation of secondary education (VO), teachers, management and students of the Amersfoort Axia College celebrated together. . This is a boost for everyone, says Van Hoek, and first and foremost for the students. “There is quite a stigma attached to special education, students often hide the fact that they are in VSO. They experience it as less, partly because they often have no subject teachers. It feels strange that their school falls under primary education (PO).”
Those subject teachers are available at Axia College. Van Hoek teaches biology. The fact that politicians in The Hague talk about their education is in itself a form of recognition for her students. “It strengthens their self-esteem,” says Van Hoek.
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Ambitions
The students at the Axia College are in pre-vocational secondary education, mavo, havo or vwo, they have ambitions and dreams, and at the same time they have to 'deal' with a psychological disorder or behavioral problems. Some of the students have been diagnosed with some form of autism. Some students withdraw into a corner when faced with adversity or frustration, others get angry. In addition to the regular subjects, all these students receive extra guidance, support and attention. VSO is the collective name for education programs for children with behavioral problems, long-term illness, learning disabilities or disabilities. Many of these pupils can obtain a normal diploma for VMBO, HAVO or VWO, thanks to extra help and small groups. Another part is trained for a profession or has day guidance as an outflow.
Vso students can obtain a normal diploma for vmbo, havo or vwo, thanks to extra help and small groups
Petition
Until now, all schools in secondary special education fall under the collective labor agreement and legislation of the primary education system. This has long been a thorn in the side of many schools. That's why the action group From vso to vo submitted a petition with XNUMX signatures to the Ministry of Education last year. Nanda van Hoek is one of the leaders. “In VSO, a teacher with a PABO training can teach in five havo. One and the same teacher then has to prepare the students for the exams in biology, mathematics, you name it.”
In pre-university education, a teacher with a pabo education can teach five havo
She thinks that is a great injustice. “All pupils have the right to good education, and in the case of VMBO, MAVO, HAVO and VWO pupils, that means a subject teacher.” But until now it has been difficult for schools to attract subject teachers under the collective labor agreement, because they have much less lesson preparation time, have to teach more hours and are paid as primary school teachers, sometimes a few hundred euros less than a teacher at a regular secondary school. .”
Relieved
Van Hoek is relieved that the transition will now be legally regulated. She does realize that the news will fall best on schools that, such as Axia, train for a diploma and that have been building a team of specialist teachers for some time. “A lot of teachers work at our school with a first and second degree qualification. Under the new collective labor agreement and legislation, we have more lesson preparation time, we are paid better and – very important – we can take and mark exams ourselves.”
Change per lesson block
Other schools will find the transition exciting. What if students have to change rooms every lesson block and receive lessons from a different teacher? “At our school we show that it is possible,” she says firmly. “The pupils from the VSO move on to regular further education and if you keep the pupils in one classroom with one teacher all the time, you will not let them get used to the further education, which may result in a lot of dropout of pupils from the VSO there.”
There are a few students at Axia who are indeed unable to cope with the change of teacher and classroom. They are in a separate parallel class. Van Hoek: “It is okay for these students if they stay in the permanent classroom, but they can practice every now and then to walk with the other students. In some other schools it is an automatic thing that the students are always in the same room.”
According to Van Hoek, three transition measures should be carefully considered when transitioning from VSO to VSO. For example, an exception should be made for students who really cannot handle a change of classroom and teacher. Secondly, schools with a limited number of pupils, such as psychiatric clinics or judicial institutions, must be taken into account. "You can't fly in eight subject teachers every day, but you could think of distance learning or a subject teacher who is indirectly involved."
Incorrect authorization
Finally, a good transitional arrangement must be made for teachers who do not have the appropriate qualifications to teach in secondary education. About this received the AOb concerned questions. For example, a VSO teacher with a PABO diploma and a Master's degree in Special Educational Needs wonders whether she will need a second-degree qualification in the future.
Marieke Jansma, policy officer of the AOb, says that nothing will change instantaneously. There are still many steps to be taken before VSO is definitively part of secondary education. “A competence is not linked one-to-one with the sector,” she adds. “The teacher training college also grants the authority to teach a large number of subjects in practical education, and practical education also falls under the VSO.”
A power is not directly linked to the sector
Jansma has seen for some time that the PABO is not a good fit with the VSO. “From various AObsurveys consistently show that the teacher training college mainly prepares for groups 3 to 8, but less for special education. In VSO you are dealing with people over the age of twelve, which does not correspond well with the training of the PABO. Something should also be done about that, this is a great opportunity to draw attention to that.”
Pabo teachers
In VSO you can now teach with a PABO diploma. Henk Vegter is a second-degree teacher of mathematics at a VSO school in Lelystad for havo and vwo. At his school they work with as many first and second grade teachers as possible. “Pupils from all over the region come to our school because we are doing so well. The mentors and subject teachers form a good team together, we are there for the students with heart and soul.”
The mentors and subject teachers together form a good team, with heart and soul we are there for the students
Vegter is also an examiner for the state exam. VSO students are not allowed to take the school exams because VSO is part of the primary school, they have to take state exams. As an examiner, Vegter sees the level of students drop when they are taught by teacher educators. “Someone cannot prepare all subjects at HAVO level for the exam.”
Nevertheless, not all teacher training college teachers have to fear, Vegter also thinks. “There are teacher educators who are simply very good at mathematics and who are good at pedagogy. Those teachers could be given authorization on the basis of a portfolio or a shortened trajectory of further training.”
For the part of special education that provides practice-oriented training, a PABO qualification is and remains sufficient. “Pabo teachers in practice-oriented courses will soon be given more time and appreciation,” says Vegter. “And rightly so, because they are very tough professions.” According to Vegter, teachers with a PABO training who act as mentors for the group can also retain their position. “Only if they also give professional lessons should there be a transitional arrangement so that they are also authorized to give them.”
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