General

Slob ends central final exams

The centrally written final exams that VMBO, HAVO and VWO students would take in May are canceled. Minister Arie Slob has decided that. "It was inevitable and is a wise decision," says AObchairman Eugenie Stolk. By canceling the final exams, schools have more time to organize the exams properly and safely.

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This year, between 7 and 23 May, students would focus on the central final exams, the two most exciting weeks of the year for secondary education. Now they will not take these final exams due to all measures to curb the corona virus. The minister comes back to that his earlier decision last week in which he announced that the exams should continue as much as possible.

School exam is final grade

Slob will scrap all central exams, including the centrally written and practical exams (CSPEs) in VMBO and the central digital flexible exams in the VMBO basic profession and VMBO management profession. The measure also applies to adult education (VAVO). "The impact of this decision is very extensive," Slob writes in his letter to the House. Yet he cannot do otherwise at the moment, because 'it is insufficiently guaranteed' that all students are properly prepared for their final exams. The school exams that normally determine half of the final mark of students will now count as the entire final mark. 'The school exams form the basis of this year's diploma', the minister writes. The vast majority of school exams have already been taken earlier in the school year. Teachers can therefore make an assessment about the students.

The impact of this decision is very significant

By canceling the final exams, the minister gives schools more time to take the school exams at a later time. Schools can take their school exams until the beginning of June and Slob emphasizes that there is no need to start with them this week. Schools are given time to think about how they are going to conduct school exams and the minister calls on this to be done remotely as much as possible, for example with video calling. The AOb and the other unions are urging schools to conduct school exams digitally and remotely as much as possible until April 6. Until then, the union advises in any case not to hold physical exams.

To care

Stolk, together with the other unions and employers' councils, consulted the minister. “We there shared the concerns that our members have,” says de AObchairman. “You have to think of, for example, the health risks for the students and the teaching staff. With the new measures that were announced yesterday, it is inconceivable that schools now have to conduct school exams. Hence our call yesterday to the minister. ” The preparation of the exam candidates was also a point of uncertainty and unrest among teachers, Stolk noted. “Preparing for a final exam under these circumstances is not easy. This decision by the minister was inevitable. ”

Preparing for a final exam under these circumstances is no mean feat. This decision by the minister was inevitable

Just before the weekend sent the AOb a survey to all members. Until yesterday, teachers and educational supporters were able to fill in the survey. The results from the open questions confirm that teaching staff with exam classes mainly wanted clarity from the minister about whether or not exams will go ahead. In addition, members indicated that they wanted time, trust and an eye for the health of the teaching staff. They notice that setting up distance learning creates a lot of work pressure and that it is sometimes difficult to combine with their private situation. The quality of education is declining, also because teachers have less insight into what students are doing and it is a challenge to keep them motivated.

Elaboration

In his letter Slob says he will reveal more details at a later date. For example, about the pass-fail scheme and the deadlines for handing in the scores of the school exams. Students also have more time to choose a follow-up study. The registration period for higher professional education and university studies will be shifted by one month to 1 June. Pupils who go to secondary vocational education must register before 1 May, they will also have one month more than usual for that.

Read Minister Slob's letter to Parliament via this link. Watch the video below with it AObdirector Henrik de Moel.

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