The Lower House is diametrically opposed to Slob about VSO exams
Education minister Arie Slob must ensure that pupils in special secondary education (VSO) can obtain their diploma this school year without having to take state exams. A motion to that effect was passed in the Lower House last night. Coalition parties D66 and CDA are thus diametrically opposed to Minister Slob, who hoped to get the 'not feasible' motion off the table.
Picture: Live stream Lower House
Last week pale during the corona debate on education that the decision to maintain the VSO exams met with resistance from many parties in the House of Representatives. They fear that due to the school closure, students have not been able to prepare properly for the exams, which are on the roll from the end of May. “It is precisely these students who have an interest in the proximity of a teacher,” said D66 MP Paul van Meenen. Together with fellow coalition member CDA, he submitted a motion calling for qualification for secondary school exam candidates on the basis of school results achieved.
It is precisely these students who have an interest in being close to a teacher
Slob made it this week by mail everything to get the House of Representatives to change its mind. The situation in VSO is not comparable to regular secondary education, he argued. All kinds of organizations - including administrative umbrella organisations, representatives of special education, the Board for Tests and Exams and the Education Inspectorate - would see no point in scrapping the exams. The minister argued that pre-university education students would be accommodated with extra resits and the possibility to have their own teacher present during oral exams. The motion could lead to diplomas being issued whose value is not guaranteed, Slob warned.
Big majority
But D66 and CDA stood their ground and put their motion - supplemented with an addition about customization - to the vote last night. A large majority voted in favour, with the exception of the SGP and coalition partners VVD and ChristenUnie. It is still unclear what consequences this ruling will have. After the vote, D66 asked the cabinet to respond quickly and indicate 'how this motion will be implemented'.
Update: Minister Slob has the House of Representatives on Friday evening let them know that he will not carry out the motion.
Other motions that have been passed include keeping laptops and tablets made available to students and identifying the support that schools need to make up for learning arrears. Due to the corona crisis, there is still money in the subsidy for spring schools. Slob has previously indicated that he will come up with a letter in the coming months about incurred educational disadvantages and possible summer schools to update students.
