Roster makers need to work better together
Schedulers in secondary education need to professionalise themselves more and work better with school leaders. Fleur Leijs observes this in her master's thesis 'Professional roster makers'.
illustration: Type tank
Schedulers in secondary education do not always receive the necessary information in time, Fleur Leijs writes in her master's thesis 'Professional schedulers' for the master's in Public Management at Utrecht University. Do roster makers have an underestimated and undervalued position? “Yes, you can say it like that,” says Leijs.
The collaboration between school management and timetable makers could therefore be improved, says Leijs. “As a school leader, by informing the timetable maker in good time, you quickly hear whether ideas are practicable. Involving the scheduler in school policy can also be financially beneficial. For example, he can investigate whether the merging or splitting of groups is technically feasible so that a better class distribution and a more compact timetable are created.
Unsolicited advice
Roster makers should also make themselves stronger for their position, is one of Leijs's recommendations. “Schedulers often blame the school management for the late information. But some roster makers themselves should be more active in following developments: ask the school management what is going on and give unsolicited advice. Instead of waiting for plans to be on your desk, ”she says.
She also argues for more professionalization of roster makers. Leijs: “Professionalization of both the person and the profession. As a professional group, make sure that you talk to each other and exchange knowledge and experiences, so that you can learn from each other and put the profession more on the map. And ensure that you develop knowledge of education, so that you know what teachers are going through. ”
