Summer peak unemployment intake of teachers 'scandalous'
Of all professions, that of primary school teacher is the most season-sensitive. This occupation has the highest peak of people entering unemployment benefits in the summer. “It is outrageous that, with the current teacher shortages, boards still do not want to offer their people permanent jobs”, says AObchairman Liesbeth Verheggen.
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The summer peak is shown by one analysis of benefits agency UWV. 'The primary school teacher has the strongest seasonal pattern, with a strong peak in the summer,' the UWV writes. Many contracts in primary education expire at the end of the school year.
Scandal
The UWV points out that not only primary school teachers have a peak in the summer when it comes to applying for unemployment benefits. There is also such a peak for teachers in secondary education who teach general subjects. Among their colleagues who teach in vocational subjects and among educational experts, the unemployment benefit intake is more spread over the whole year.
We need to keep all novice teachers. You don't do that by throwing them into unemployment every summer
Verheggen thinks the summer peak is 'a scandal'. “The teacher shortages are enormous, we have to keep all starting teachers for the subject. You don't do that by throwing them into the unemployment benefit every summer. ”
Flex
Verheggen fears that the summer peak will be made worse by the Balanced labor market act, which is now in the Senate. “That law includes a - to me incomprehensible - provision for substitutes in primary education. They can get an indefinite number of flex contracts when it comes to replacement in case of illness. While these are fully licensed teachers. This makes it even more unattractive to work in education. That provision should be deleted. ”
In a replacement pool you can deploy people flexibly and give them a permanent contract
The summer peak can be prevented if school boards work together in their deployment of staff, for example by setting up a joint replacement pool. “That way you can deploy people flexibly and give them a permanent contract in the replacement pool,” says Verheggen. “That is possible and it happens: there are boards where things are going very well. Now the rest. ”
The Senate will soon take a decision on the law. The AOb therefore sent a letter to the Senate.
