Debate safety at school.

Debate safety at school.

‘I was shocked by the intense stories coming in,’ said minister Wiersma (primary and secondary education) about the advice point of Ouders & Onderwijs during the debate on the evaluation of the law on safety at school. Last Wednesday, it was about bullying, a report point for insecurity and Veilig Thuis reports. The current situation regarding the war in Ukraine was also briefly discussed.

To tackle bullying and other unsafe situations, Wiersma wants to set up a social insecurity report point. Parents and students can report unsafe situations at school there. Ouders & Onderwijs has indicated that it is important to set up this report point together with parents.

Low threshold

Wiersma called the advice point of Ouders & Onderwijs a place where parents can go in a low-threshold way. Our employees often see that parents are sent from pillar to post and, when they have reported, often do not get feedback from the Education Inspectorate. They then do not know what happens to their complaint. Van Meenen (D66) pointed out this problem to the minister. The minister wants to increase the accessibility and capacity of the confidential inspector for this.

Veilig Thuis reports

Lisa Westerveld (GreenLeft) raised the problem with Veilig Thuis reports around non-tailored education and parents keeping their child home because of corona. The minister acknowledged this problem. A good conversation between the school and parents should prevent such escalation. René Peters (CDA) pointed out the risk of more false reports when setting up the above-mentioned report point. Wiersma wants to watch this carefully when setting it up.

Ukraine

MP De Hoop (PvdA) pointed out to the minister the expected flow of refugees from Ukraine. Education must prepare for this as well, according to De Hoop. The minister said these children have the right to education as soon as they are in the Netherlands, but it must be arranged within three months at the latest. Wiersma is working with schools on scenarios for the arrival of Ukrainian children.

The minister will start in the coming months with setting up the report point and tackling social insecurity at schools. Before the end of this year, the House of Representatives wants to talk with the minister again about the progress. Soon there will be a short debate where members can submit motions to adjust or add to the minister’s policy.

Watch below the clip from the debate where minister Wiersma mentions Ouders & Onderwijs.

The entire debate can be watched via www.debatgemist.tweedekamer.nl.