Schools receive a contribution if they adjust teaching times
MBO institutions and secondary schools in Groningen receive money if they adjust their class schedule so that students and pupils no longer travel during the morning rush hour. From this month on, schools can make a proposal. The more students travel outside of rush hour, the more money they receive.
Groningen Accessible, Arriva and the Groningen Drenthe public transport agency are making money available for this because they want fewer full buses and trains, during rush hour and want a better spread during the works on the ring road in Groningen from 2017-2022. This is possible if schools start their lessons before 7.45 am or after 9.00 am. 'In the city of Groningen, some 35.500 students go to secondary education and MBO. 66 percent go to school between 7.00 a.m. and 9.00 a.m. and 38 percent of them travel by train and bus, 'says Groningen Accessible in a press release.
AObmbo district manager Eugenie Stolk says that schools cannot simply adjust their schedules.
Boards must consult with the Works Council, Student Council or Participation Council. I do wonder who will ultimately receive the money, will teachers and students benefit from it?
Encouragement
The amount depends on the number of students traveling outside peak hours, with a maximum of 25 euros per school. “It is an encouragement to start with it”, says Hans Vooges of Groningen Accessible. “It does not have to be the case that the timetable is adjusted for the entire school, it is also possible for one study program. For example, the training to become a car mechanic. I heard at one school that they would like to start at 7.30 am for the last two years of the training. It's the same in work life. ”
Vooges says it is all about cooperation and support. “We have been looking at this with various schools for some time now. Schools must of course inform their supporters themselves. But sometimes you can get a lot of students out of the morning rush hour by meeting in the morning, not in the afternoon. ”
Difficult
The Noorderpoort College, a large MBO institution, is not unsympathetic to the plan, but the implementation is still quite difficult, says press officer Harry Bouma. “It's not just a matter of starting later. We have students who have a side job in the afternoon to pay for their education. Moreover, our buildings are quite full. We look at where we can achieve something without overhauling the entire school. For example, we can meet on Tuesday morning instead of in the afternoon. ”
Gomarus College will also submit a proposal, says location director David de Jong. About a thousand pupils from the school use public transport every day. “There is profit for us on both sides.” The school has quite a few students who live further away. “They would be grateful if we started later.” At the suggestion of two pupils, the school is thinking about teaching times from 10.00:16.00 to XNUMX:XNUMX. “We have to look at that with the roster maker. Starting later seems to be good for the adolescent brains."
