Teaching profession law raises many questions
The profession of teacher act has been in force since 1 August. Action is being taken on social media against the teacher register, which is part of it. "Wrongfully," says AObchairman Liesbeth Verheggen. "The original bill was indeed wrong, but what the Upper and Lower House have now approved helps the teacher."
The discussion about the teacher register has been going on for almost ten years. De Algemene Onderwijsbond has always followed the same course: a register alone makes no sense. This will be a settlement tool for employers. Liesbeth Verheggen clarifies that there should be a Teaching Profession Act that has more components. “A teachers' register only makes sense if there is a balance between and more autonomy and say by the professional himself, and accountability through a register. This professional chain is the basis, the register the final piece. Just as it works in healthcare, for doctors and nurses. ”
In those ten years *Download here the timeline.the Rutte II cabinet pushed for a compulsory register, without regulating the authority of teachers. "The AOb has always lobbied hard for a proper Teaching Profession Act, we have written an initiative bill where this autonomy is regulated. And that is ultimately what the House of Representatives and the Senate have adopted. I am therefore proud of that end result. It is precisely this greater autonomy for teachers that makes employers' organizations less happy with this law. They preferred only a mandatory register. ”
Strengthening the say of teachers is an issue that we as an education union have been fighting for years
The law now consists of two parts. The first part is about strengthening the position of the teacher in the school. For example, a principal may not ask to adjust a student's grade. Or choose a teaching method without consulting the teachers.
“Strengthening the say of teachers is a point that we as an education association have been fighting for for years,” says Liesbeth Verheggen. “We think it is logical that increasing control also involves greater responsibility. Hence the link: control and register. The AOb sees this law as an opportunity to strengthen the autonomy of teachers within schools and to make the profession more attractive. In the meantime, we are committed to a better salary, lower workload and more qualified teachers in the classroom. We make agreements about time and money for training in collective labor agreements. ”
During those ten years, the discussion about the Teaching Profession Act has been continuously discussed in the association. “They have been included in this process step by step. The latest version of the law was ultimately assessed by our general meeting as a good bill that deserves our support. ” It stated the AOb moreover, not alone. The other teacher organizations - CNV Education, FvOV, Platform VVVO and Beter Onderwijs Nederland - also supported the bill as it was passed to the House of Representatives and eventually adopted.
In the meantime, the law has been in force since August and stipulates that from August 2018, teachers can register, and in August 2019, recording training will be mandatory. From 2027, the re-registration may have consequences. The criteria for this that you must meet are determined by the professional group itself. What will be the role of the AOb now? “We will monitor the implementation critically,” says Verheggen. “We would have liked to have seen the introduction of the register later and differently, but the implementation period for the follow-up steps is long. From October on, an elected participants' council - there are numerous critical candidates, from within and outside unions - will supervise implementation on behalf of all teachers. As an association, we will not hesitate to identify problems in implementation. And of course we assist our members if employers do not comply with the agreements made and teachers get into trouble. ”
Read more?
Here you will find in a timeline the discussion about the Teaching Profession Act.
All questions and answers about the law at a glance.
