Law should reduce classes in primary schools
The parties SP and D66 want an immediate end to monster classes with 30 or more students. Moreover, the average group size should ultimately be reduced to 23 students per school location. Yesterday, the parties submitted a private member's bill to the Lower House to achieve this. AObchairman Liesbeth Verheggen is satisfied.
In the explanation the parties write that the 'excesses of very large classes' in primary education are directly addressed by law. One in eleven students is in a class with 30 or more students. According to the SP and D66, this creates a great workload and is disadvantageous for the students. They are less actively involved in the lessons.
SP and D66 propose in law to ban classes with 30 students or more from now on.
In addition, the parties want to arrive at an average group size of 23 students per school location within six years.
SP leader Emile Roemer says: 'A smaller class is better for children. More attention leads to better performance and is better for the teacher because of the lower workload. ' Alexander Pechtold, foreman of D66, says that investing in small classes is an investment in the future.
Definition
The two parties also write in their explanation that they want a better definition of the teacher-student ratio, the number of students per teacher. It should only be about the teacher who actually stands in front of the class and not about colleagues in other positions, such as class assistants and janitors. Only then can you properly monitor class size.
AObchairman Verheggen is very happy with the law because it is exactly what the AOb suggested before. "Steps are finally being taken," says Verheggen. “D66 and SP have done a very good job. The law is very concrete and it also includes our idea to set an average group size per school. This allows you to leave customization to the teachers. Our message has arrived. This is very good for the students and the staff. ”
Because the law sets the average group size at 23 pupils per school, you also have a good unit of calculation, says Verheggen. "You can use it to gain insight into the teacher shortage."
