Verheggen: 'New curriculum requires time, space and resources'
Enough time, space and training opportunities for teachers are the most important conditions for properly developing the new curriculum in schools. That says AObchairman Liesbeth Verheggen. This is a challenge with teacher shortages.
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In the final advice: 'Building together the primary and secondary education of tomorrow' The Curriculum.nu coordination group, in which Verheggen and the other education unions are responsible, advises the Minister of Education that sufficient time, space and resources are needed to make the new curriculum a success. In addition, thinking about the curriculum and new adjustments must become an ongoing process in the schools. Verheggen: “Abroad, they take years to implement it properly. That is also necessary here. Politicians should not say that it must all be realized by August 2020. ”
Teacher shortages make it difficult to find that time and space, according to de AObchairman. "We to strike not for nothing on 6 November and we are calling on the cabinet once again to invest extra in education. ”
A scrutiny of the curriculum was important to combat the overload of the curriculum, to get more cohesion between the curricula in primary and secondary education and to update it based on today's requirements. As of today, definitive proposals have been made for nine learning areas. "The new curriculum and thinking about it helps schools to prevent every social problem from being thrown over the fence in education," says Verheggen.
Participation and leading role
In 2015, the curriculum process began under the leadership of Professor Paul Schnabel with the name Education2032. The idea for renewal came from former State Secretary Sander Dekker. The AOb then argued for more teacher participation. That participation has come. “We thought that Schnabel's process was awful top-down , while the teacher and school leaders should be in control. ” Ultimately, this gave teachers and school leaders the lead role and initiative in the revision of the curriculum. Verheggen: “Development schools were established, the professional field was able to participate in discussions and make proposals. Anyone who wanted to participate could participate. Unfortunately that did not always work because of the teacher shortages. ”
Politics is about the what question, the professionals about the how question
Today all plans have been sent to the Lower House. “Politics is about the what question. So what students should learn, ”says de AObchairman. “The professionals in the schools deal with the how question. They must be given the space to fill this in as they see fit. ” Regarding the content of the proposals, the AOb no statements. "We will not say whether we are for or against realistic math or whether we want to abolish teaching the addition and subtraction of fractions of the same name."
"Our task is mainly to see what is needed to shape it and how we ensure sufficient participation and support from the field itself." The AOb therefore, today sends an email to all members in primary and secondary education with a survey about the new curriculum. Members may then give an opinion on the substantive proposals and the process. Verheggen: "Broad support is a precondition for a successful development."
