These seven tasks are not mandatory

Is the work overwhelming you? Then take a critical look at your tasks. And make agreements with your team about what can be done less or differently. These seven topics are not allowed. They are allowed, except for the last one.

You don't have to make group plans (in)

It is essential to have a good overview of student progress. And teachers must act on those advances. But schools can decide for themselves how to record progress and make it visible. It can be based on observations, student work or tests.

Three reports every school year? Not required (primary/vo)

Schools must inform parents about their child's progress. But a school is free in the form of reporting and the number of reports. Most primary schools hand out a report three times a year. In secondary education there are often two or three.

Reports of parent meetings? Only if you find it useful (primary/vo)

The law does not prescribe how often teachers must hold parent meetings per year. There are also no regulations regarding whether or not to write or have interview reports signed. The law states that teachers are responsible for parent contacts.

There are no mandatory methods (such as the direct instruction model) (primary/vo)

The Education Inspectorate looks at the level of your didactic performance. As a professional you must be able to explain why you make certain choices in teaching. There is no check whether you follow methods correctly or which didactic method you use.

It may be the case that a school board chooses a particular didactic model. Not every teacher always agrees with the choice of a particular method. “Teachers are often only heard through the few 'enthusiastic' colleagues who are in the staff section of the participation council,” says policy officer Roos Bonnemaijers of the AOb. “In these types of situations it is very important that a professional statute, or a teachers' council. The choice for a didactic model affects the professional autonomy of teachers and must therefore also be made by them.”

Not every student needs a development perspective (primary/vo, except secondary education, secondary education and practical education)

Schools must draw up a development perspective for students who need extra support. Drawing up such a development perspective is not necessary for basic support. For example, consider adjustments for a student with dyslexia. You can read what falls under the basic support offer in the support plan of the partnership to which your school falls.

The student monitoring system does not have to be extensive (primary/vo)

Since 2014, primary schools have been legally obliged to use a student monitoring system for language and arithmetic. This obligation does not apply to other subjects. In such a system you also do not have to record for each test whether students have answered questions correctly or incorrectly. Secondary schools are not obliged to use a tracking system. In practice, almost every secondary school does it, for example with Magister, to monitor learning performance.

Former education minister Dennis Wiersma wanted, based on the Basic Skills Master Plan, to make a student monitoring system mandatory for the lower classes in secondary education. It is unclear whether and how a new cabinet will continue this.

Conduct school tests on preschoolers? This is no longer allowed (in)

The development of preschoolers must be monitored, but not by taking tests. Since this school year, schools are no longer allowed to use school tests with an exercise book, pen and paper for preschoolers. "Schools must use observations to determine how their toddlers are doing," the Ministry of Education said.

Start talking about useless tasks

These seven tasks do not require the Education Inspectorate, the Primary Education Act or the Secondary Education Act. But perhaps a number of topics are required by your school board or manager. Do you not see the point of something your employer imposes on you? Then start the conversation. Together as a team, but also with the school management and the school board. And put together the legally required professional status on. The AOb can support you.

Together we achieve more! Join the AOb

Sources and credits

The brochure Space in Rules (2017) and various online publications by the Education Inspectorate
De Primary Education Act (Wpo), the Secondary Education Act (Wvo) and the Teacher Profession Act (Wbl), the latter of which is an article within the Wpo and the Wvo
The message 'No more tests for toddlers' on Rijksoverheid.nl

Author: Joëlle Poortvliet, with thanks to Roos Bonnemaijers

Image: useng (iStock)