Coalition stoically adheres to tackling the teacher shortage
Without much insight into the results of his measures against the increasing teacher shortage for the time being, education minister Arie Slob (ChristenUnie) is sticking to the course set by the cabinet. So no new investments in salary improvement for teachers. Let alone a future-proof investment plan.
Image: Valerie Kuypers/OCW
This became apparent this afternoon during a debate in the House of Representatives about the teacher shortage, in which Ministers Slob and Ingrid van Engelshoven were again rubbed in by opposition parties that the approach requires more urgency, decisiveness and money.
De AOb asks for one solid investment plan that extends beyond the current reign. To reinforce the requirements, an action week has been set up together with FNV Education and Research from 11 March, culminating in an action week on 15 March. nationwide strike throughout education.
From an investigation that the ministers last week to the House, it turns out that there is every reason to be concerned. In the coming years, education will face a large number of unfilled vacancies - in other words: classes without a teacher or without a qualified teacher. The measures apparently fall short, according to GroenLinks.
Dated
Slob emphasized that these estimates are based on a measurement moment before the measures, and that they do not yet say anything about the results of his approach. "Those figures are pretty dated," he responded, but the image he evoked was not much more reassuring. Because how can you know whether the cabinet is getting enough out of the closet?
In addition, SP Member of Parliament Peter Kwint pointed out that another part of the figures is indeed up to date. For example, about the number of unfilled vacancies - which has risen rapidly in recent years - and the decreasing number of responses to them. “We have not sat on our hands. We work extremely hard, in and around the schools,” Slob responded.
The pension wave, which involves large numbers and then the question is whether you can absorb that with everything you do
The minister himself mentioned a “major concern”: the imminent wave of retirement for older teachers, albeit somewhat delayed because the state pension age has shifted. "That involves quite large numbers and the question is whether you can compensate for that with everything you do."
Returners
In particular, salary improvements and investments to relieve the workload should make the profession more attractive. But in contrast to an increased intake at primary school teacher training colleges, there is now again a worrying drop at second-level teacher training courses. By attracting lateral entrants and returners, the minister hopes to find more teachers in the short term. Slob mentioned in the debate about "about a thousand" lateral entrants who made the switch last year. “In total numbers you can say: what are we talking about, but that is really quite a number.” The number of returnees? “123.”
As before, there was widespread irritation about commercial agencies taking teachers from one school and offering them to another. Slob could not offer much more than an appeal to school boards - via the umbrella organizations - not to cooperate. Many parties also believe that educational institutions should be encouraged to use their financial reserves. Although at the same time they recognize that you cannot pay for structural investments from a one-off piggy bank.
SP Member of Parliament Peter Kwint evoked a comparison with the film Groundhog Day.
It was the third time since the Rutte 3 coalition took office in October 2017 that the House of Representatives debated the teacher shortage with the minister. Noticeable is the irritation among the opposition, which is always blunted by the government factions with investment proposals. SP Member of Parliament Kwint brought up the comparison with the film Groundhog Day. In it, the main character wakes up every day in the same day, which always takes place in the same way.
Last Monday night during the AObeducation debate, a stone's throw from the House of Representatives, there was political support for a future-proof investment pact that looks beyond four years. This afternoon, government parties stuck to the mantra: coalition agreement = coalition agreement.
There is, however, a growing impatience within the coalition to see convincing results. GroenLinks MP Lisa Westerveld heard hopeful signals here and there. “We will see how they react to our proposals next time when they vote.” The fact that schools are forced to introduce a four-day teaching week due to the teacher shortage and that vulnerable students will be the first to pay the bill is not good for either party.
