House of Representatives talks about mbo. This is what you need to know.

House of Representatives talks about mbo. This is what you need to know.

The past weeks had two debates about mbo in the House of Representatives. The members agreed that these students deserve more appreciation. Without mbo students, the Netherlands stands still at a time when we need skilled workers. It was about (internship) discrimination of students with support needs, the role of parents, school fees, equal opportunities and connection to the labor market. That is a lot, but luckily we followed the debates for you.

Ouders & Onderwijs sent before the debates a letter to the House of Representatives with recommendations. These were well received by the participants. Below you read which points got attention.

Parent involvement

During the last debate (last Wednesday, 16 November) it was first about parent involvement. In response to questions from SGP member Bisschop, Minister Dijkgraaf said that he finds contact with parents very important. Hagen (D66) and Bisschop submitted a motion asking the minister to talk with Ouders & Onderwijs about how parents can be more involved in their children’s education in mbo. We are of course looking forward to this.

School fees and internship discrimination

The topic of school fees was also discussed. For example, member Kwint (SP) asked the minister about the costs that compulsory mbo students make for learning materials for their education. Age peers in, for example, havo and vwo get these costs reimbursed unlike mbo students. The minister promised to come back on this point soon. Members Van der Plas (BBB) and El Yassini (VVD) also asked for attention for internship discrimination, specifically discrimination due to a disability. They submitted a motion about this.

Binding study advice 

A week earlier, the first part of the debate was also about the binding study advice. That is advice to continue or stop the education. If the advice is negative, you must stop the education. Ouders & Onderwijs regularly gets cases showing the binding advice is given unfairly, without written warning or chance to improve results. Kiki Hagen (D66) argued during the debate to abolish the binding study advice. We are happy with this proposal.

Education quality

There were also concerns during the debate about the quality of education. Although students need basic skills in Dutch language, arithmetic and citizenship, this is often not in order. The number of students leaving education illiterate and/or innumerate is growing and citizenship education is stagnating. Member Beertema (PVV) stressed the importance of good basic skills for emancipation. Children in mbo systematically get much less general education, because after four years they leave secondary education and have already had many practical and vocational subjects. This makes it more urgent to pay continuous attention to this in mbo and to ensure lessons are given by qualified teachers.

Members Hagen (D66) and Van der Molen (CDA) therefore stressed the importance of well-trained (qualified) teachers, also for mbo.

Books, learning materials and school fees

The amount that parents have to pay for learning materials was also an important topic during the debate. Member De Hoop (PvdA) pointed out that these extra costs can influence the choice of education. One focus point is

the buy-back scheme,

This scheme requires schools to buy back unused books from students, but in practice it does not work. Schools often have little reason not to buy back the books. El Yassini said mbo institutions must quickly find a solution. Otherwise, national rules will apply.

Another focus point was the difference in costs for secondary school students and mbo students. Member Kwint (SP) mentioned the problem with these costs combined with compulsory education. Underage mbo students must attend school and pay for their learning materials. While pupils of the same age in havo and vwo get their materials reimbursed. Kwint asked the minister how this inequality can be resolved.

This matches the wish of Ouders & Onderwijs that underage students who fall under book, learning materials and optional modules costs must be paid by the mbo institution. Education for underage students with compulsory qualification must be free for parents and students, regardless of the type of education. We also think tuition fees in case of early termination of education must be calculated pro rata. Following higher education, an mbo student should get back the remaining months. 

Internship discrimination

There was much talk during the debate about internship discrimination. Ouders & Onderwijs also asked the House of Representatives to pay attention to discrimination of students with support needs. VVD member El Yassini mentioned this in his input. Minister Dijkgraaf wants to use internship matching to tackle discrimination. Students are matched with an internship place by the school. Opinions on internship matching differ among parties.

Student wellbeing

There was also attention during the debate for the mental health of mbo students. Member Van der Graaf (CU) mentioned the growing mental pressure on young people. Various studies show that young people and young adults (16 to 26 years) had more mental problems during the first two years of the corona crisis than before corona. Yet little is known about many young people, including the over 500,000 mbo students in the Netherlands.

Mbo students feel unheard. There is hardly any multi-year research into the mental health of these students. Because of this, this group and the severity of any problems are often not clear to policymakers. Ouders & Onderwijs therefore wants a national monitor on the mental health of mbo students to be set up.

School participation council 

The last topic was school participation council in mbo. Especially that of parents. How does it work again? Since 2010, students and staff talk through a Students’ Council and a Works Council about mbo school policy. With that change of law, parents lost their say. Parents can in theory form a voluntary parents council, but in practice no mbo institution uses it. Parents do not know this is possible and schools do not take initiative to inform them.

We were therefore also happy that member Van der Molen (CDA) pointed out there is no attention for school participation council in mbo in the participation monitor of the minister for higher education and that Bisschop (SGP) asked the minister to pay specific attention to the position of parents and to talk about it with Ouders & Onderwijs.

Motions

Many motions were submitted during the debate by various factions. Want to know more? All motions are available on the website of the House of Representatives. Next Tuesday (22 November) the motions will be voted on. We will keep you informed.