Reactions to the coalition agreement
Not only the representatives of the education staff, but also employers in primary and secondary education have a strong judgment about the coalition agreement of VVD, CDA, D66 and Christenunie presented yesterday. A tour of the fields.
Source: still from cabinet formation 2017.nl
The forthcoming Rutte III cabinet presented a coalition agreement with 1,5 billion euros in structural investments in education. At the same time, there are a few unexpected catches.
The already announced 270 million euros for teacher salaries in primary education appears to be linked to a reduction in extra statutory benefits. And 430 million euros will be structurally available for workload reduction in primary education, but only from 2021, when the cabinet is still there. At the same time, 183 million euros must still be saved somewhere within the education budget by working 'more efficiently'.
Last week More than XNUMX teachers went on strike in the largest one-day strike ever. 'We wanted to wait for the coalition agreement before planning a follow-up. But the course seems clear to me: quickly with the other unions, PO in Action and the employers around the table to plan follow-up actions', says AObchairman Liesbeth Verheggen.
PO in Action
PO in Actie is preparing for another strike. 'We can see that Rutte III sees and hears our concerns, but unfortunately does not yet consider them fully. PO in Actie already stated last week that we are only satisfied with the full claim of 1,4 billion euros. That is of course still the case. We also announced that we would stop working for two days in November, if necessary. As far as PO in Actie is concerned, after this coalition agreement, that is clear: two days on strike in November.
Rinda den Besten, chairman of the primary education council: “It is good to see that the cabinet is aware of the major problems in our sector. But it tries to solve them with mouse steps, that doesn't work ”
PO council
The PO council, the representative of the primary school boards, strongly criticizes the coalition agreement. The measures to reduce the teacher shortage do not go far enough. Only in 2021 will the cabinet allocate 430 million euros to reduce the workload. 'Much too late, the need is too great now,' said chairman Rinda den Besten a press release.
The 270 million euros for increasing teacher salaries in primary education is also not nearly enough for a solid first step. “It is good to see that the cabinet is aware of the major problems in our sector. But it tries to solve them with mouse steps, that does not work ”, says Den Besten of the PO council.
The government does not live up to the claim that equal opportunities are being pursued: the fifteen million euros that the educational disadvantage policy receives, is dwarfed by the 140 million that have been cut in recent years. Furthermore, the employers' organization lacks measures against the so-called silent cuts in material expenditure. Employers in primary education find it positive that disease replacement is excluded from the chain provision in the Work and Security Act.
VO council
'A big setback', calls chairman Paul Rosenmöller of the VO council the coalition agreement. The cabinet says it wants to strengthen the position of teachers, but according to Rosenmöller, it is forgetting secondary education teachers: they also have to deal with a high workload. It is also difficult to find teachers in secondary education for certain shortage subjects. The employers' association praises the fact that 150 million euros will be added to technical education, even though this concerns a relatively small group of students. The efficiency cut of 183 million still to be completed hangs like a dark cloud over education. 50 million of that ends up in secondary education, the umbrella organization calculates. This will mean a setback for many schools. This possible cutback is unpalatable, according to Rosenmöller.
Paul Rosenmöller, Chairman of the VO Council: “This coalition agreement is a major setback. The possible cutbacks are indigestible ”
Association of Universities of Applied Sciences
The Association of Universities of Applied Sciences is pleased that the funds released from the loan system (which will be maintained) will go to higher education institutions for quality improvement. The universities of applied sciences want to meet with the new minister of education to make agreements about investments in educational quality, better supervision of students and professionalization of teachers. Chairman Thom de Graaf in a statement on the VH website: 'The universities of applied sciences will make choices that fit their own context and will of course account for their performance and the resources to be spent.'
VSNU
'The coalition agreement contains the ambition to spend 200 million annually on fundamental research and another 200 million on applied research.' The universities are positive about these investments, according to de VSNU. The VSNU is pleased that higher education institutions can count on the agreed resources from the loan system. In addition to promising investments, VSNU chairman Pieter Duisenberg also sees a major task for the future: 'The coalition agreement sets us, as universities, the task of investing in science as effectively as possible. Adding money is a good first step, but more effort is needed to keep up with the international top.' Despite the resources from the loan system, the pressure on student funding continues, according to the VSNU.
National Student Union
The Lsvb is 'deeply disappointed' that the loan system will be maintained. According to the student organization, the CDA and the Christenunie have broken their election promise about a return of the basic grant. The reduction in tuition fees in the first year of study will not improve accessibility, say the students. Students who started in 2015 up to and including this year are completely screwed up, it says press release. 'They have never received a basic grant, they cannot benefit from the investments in educational quality and have never received the thousand euros' discount'. "
