Slob: 'Teachers are not given priority during vaccination'
Minister Arie Slob does not intend to give teachers priority in vaccination, he announced in the Lower House today. He also wants to continue the final test and the final exams for the time being. And next month he will present a 'National program for education after corona'.
Photo: Rob Niemantsverdriet
We vaccinate to prevent people from being killed or seriously ill, Education Minister Slob said in the Lower House today. “That is why we have prioritized vulnerable groups in vaccinations. If people also want priority in education, I ask: Well, which vulnerable groups should we remove from the vaccination list? Then it remains quiet. ”
The issue of vaccination has been one of the topics of today's long debate. Because the cabinet has fallen, this is the last education debate for the time being and many topics were discussed just as quickly. The main points from the debate are:
When will the schools reopen?
In primary education, everything is focused on February 8, although that depends on what the RIVM and OMT conclude about the British virus. How dangerous and contagious is that? Hopefully, that advice will come later this week.
In secondary education, the situation is more unclear. Here too, we have to wait and see what the OMT will advise, but "we are not finished with the one and a half meters in between for the time being", warned Slob.
Will the final exam take place?
And if so: in what form? The minister would very much like the central exams to take place, and last month he announced that he therefore included a third epoch enters. But with this month's new lockdown, the prospects for the exams "have not become more positive", the minister informed the House today.
Examinations in only the core subjects is a major decision that we must think carefully about
The VO council has already expressed concerns about the feasibility of the exams and the Laks announced that students would like to take final exams only in the core subjects this year. “But in pre-vocational secondary education, only Dutch is a core subject,” Slob warned. "Limiting exams to only the core subjects is therefore a major decision that we need to think about."
The members of the AOb will be surveyed this week about the central final exams, the AOb emphatically brings their input to the attention of the Minister. He wants to tie the knot of the exams before the start of spring break in the South region on 15 February.
Will the final test continue?
The final judgment on the final test, which was taken last year was deleted, is given in the six weeks prior to the test. So between the beginning of March and the purchase date of the end of April. For now, Slob is holding on tight to the fingerboard, because it is a good one second opinion forms to ensure that disadvantaged pupils are not advised to a level that is too low.
This year's final test takes into account the arrears that the students have incurred. “Absolute standardization will be relative standardization this year,” says Slob.
In addition, the opinion of teachers will play a greater role this year in advising on the type of further education. This in a way that, according to the minister, "the inspectorate and further education find justifiable."
The minister is urging teachers to provide 'promising' advice
The minister urges teachers to give 'promising' advice, in other words to estimate pupils too high rather than too low. 'Students thus receive test advice that matches their potential in secondary education', the minister wrote to the House at the end of last week, 'even if the student does not yet have the absolute knowledge required at the time of taking the test. In secondary education, pupils have time and space to catch up if they have fallen behind.'
National education program after corona
The minister promises to present an action program for clearing the backlog at the end of February. “But getting rid of that won't work this school year,” he warned. This means that current disadvantages in group 8 of primary education will affect secondary education. And that backlogs in the final exam classes of secondary education will affect MBO, HBO and WO.
Clearing the backlog will take several years. Let's just say that together, that gives peace
“Eliminating backlogs will take several years,” says Slob. “Let's just talk that out with each other, that gives peace. And it also requires investments - structural money.” That will come, the minister promises.
In preparation for the national action plan, the minister has asked the VU University to map out the backlog. "It will come as no surprise that grades 3 and 8 of primary education receive special attention." In the meantime, Slob is calling on secondary education to create broad bridging classes, so that students have the opportunity to progress to a higher education level for as long as possible.
Registration of the shortages
Last year, the House of Representatives had already called on Minister Slob to address the teacher shortages to map. Does that happen too? There are two versions. The House believes that the minister is not doing this, and is fed up with that. However, the minister believes that the original way of registering (via the website Teacher shortageisnu.nl) has failed, but that the deficit is now being accurately monitored in the four major cities.
A report on the four major cities will follow in February, Slob promises. After that, the registration of the shortages, which revealed quite a few hidden vacancies in the cities, is extended to the rest of the country. A motion is being prepared to force the minister to map out teacher shortages.
Is the use of unauthorized people also teaching time?
The confusion was complete with the question of whether the use of unauthorized persons in primary education also counts as 'teaching time'. The House had instructed the minister not to count the use of unauthorized persons as teaching time, but the minister seemed to put aside.
The opposite is true, Slob argues. On the contrary, he has long quit this practice. To which the House states that the minister has expanded this practice, because schools can now submit an application several times a year instead of once to deploy unauthorized persons.
A motion is also being prepared on this issue. And otherwise it must be a nice puzzle for the new cabinet.
Also read: 'Next cabinet must work on equal opportunities'
