Action week in March for more investment in education
De AOb will be campaigning together with FNV Education and Research in the week of 11 March for more investment in education. The unions are calling on members from all educational sectors to participate. The week will conclude with a national education strike on March 15 at the Malieveld in The Hague.
Picture: Type tank
Just before the provincial council elections on March 20, 2019, the AOb make it clear that an investment plan is needed for education. During this cabinet term, a start must be made on catching up on the backlog and the cabinet must invest in education. This is the only way to counteract declining student performance and teacher shortages.
Disrupting
Leave today the outcomes of the AOb-survey see that the teacher shortage is disrupting education. Teachers, educational supporters and directors from primary, secondary and secondary vocational education continue to work en masse in the event of illness, are constantly looking for invaders or training and the classes are packed.
Despite this, the Rutte III cabinet no longer invests in education. “Strange, because economists agree that investing in education is good for society and economic growth,” says AObchairman Liesbeth Verheggen. “In the meantime, this cabinet is focusing on tax relief for companies, while we all benefit more from good education. This is even important for foreign companies: a well-educated population is high on their wish list for business plans.
AObchair Liesbeth Verheggen: 'This cabinet focuses on reducing the burden on companies, while we all benefit more from good education'
Education is overstrained, says Verheggen, due to the high expectations of politicians, parents, pupils and students. “We cannot meet those expectations with the current budget. The attractiveness of a job in education has declined. Simply because salaries are lagging behind the market due to continuous cutbacks. The staff shortage is causing an increasing workload, while education already has the highest burnout risk. That really has to change. ”
Take action and take action!
The opportunity to do things differently comes after the provincial council elections on 20 March. Everything indicates that the current coalition will then lose its majority in the Senate and must seek support from the opposition. “As education, we must therefore make it clear in advance that education will be at the top of the political priority list,” says de AObchairman. The AOb wants a start to be made during this cabinet term. For primary up to and including university education, this requires a structural 4 billion euros.
March 15, 2019: national education strike
De willingness to take action among teaching staff is high in all sectors, according to a survey at the end of November AObmembers. Striking and demonstrating are most often mentioned as a means of action. The willingness to take action is also high at the universities, where FNV Education and Research represents the staff.
In December, the central board therefore opened the strike fund for education-wide campaigns. In January and February there will be debates and campaigns in individual sectors. From 11 March there will be an education action week, which will be concluded with a national education strike on Friday 15 March.
Also read: 'What you need to know about the national strike and the week of action'
Also read: What does the AOb per education sector?
Also read: 'Teacher shortage disrupts education', the result of the AOb-survey asking about the teacher shortage in primary, secondary and secondary vocational education
Download: The education note with all details and financial amounts
Download: The requirements of FNV Education and Government for academic and higher education
Download: Flyer campaign week 11 to 15 March 'Invest in education'
