Improvement proposals National Education Program.

Improvement proposals National Education Program.

Last week minister Slob (Primary and Secondary Education) and Ingrid van Engelshoven (Education) announced the National Education Program. Ouders & Onderwijs supports this plan but has sent the House of Representatives, together with seven other parent organizations, some points to improve the program.

School participation council and parent involvement

Parent involvement is important. The program states that the school participation council must agree with the school’s plan. The school participation council must be prepared to make decisions quickly about this complex and very large plan. Support could be organized, for example through guides or (online) training.

The program starts next school year, but some transition decisions are already made this summer. For example, changes to the promotion standards in the secondary school transition test. Ouders & Onderwijs would like these decisions to be made together with the parents and students involved.

Work pressure resources

The plan says school teams decide how to use the available funds for schools. This is good because people who work daily with the children can best estimate what is needed, in consultation with parents and children. The plan still lacks details on how this will work in practice.

Structural investments

The best way to overcome the effects of corona in education is to invest structurally in qualified teachers, smaller classes, and more hands in the classroom. Ouders & Onderwijs thinks schools should have more perspective on getting more structural funding.

Extra hands in the classroom

The main point is attracting extra people to guide children, give extra lessons, or assist in class. But even before the corona crisis, there was a big shortage. It must be prevented that there is money but no guidance. They should explore if schools can spend the money over a longer period.

Attention for students with extra support needs

Plans must also consider students with special support needs. It is important that funds can be used for specialists that match these children’s specific needs. Other measures to consider are:

• Allowing students in special education and practical education track to stay one year longer in special education, regardless of age.
• Letting schools clearly state in their own programs what extra support they currently offer vulnerable students.
• Providing extra guidance to companies and young people during the transition to work or work-study programs.
• Giving extra rewards to companies that offer work or training places.
• Offering all state exam candidates a chance to retake exams, for example with a result improvement test.

Further details of these and other measures for students with extra support needs are in the letter to the minister from Balans, IederIn, and Ouders & Onderwijs.

Early childhood education

Due to the corona crisis, many children were not seen well at the consultation office. This affects enrollment in early childhood education. These delays must be caught up later. One solution could be to continue early childhood education during holidays in consultation with parents. This helps keep language levels steady and catch up.

General well-being and extended learning paths

Some children have a hard time due to corona measures. It is important to watch the pressure on children and allow extra time to catch up, even if it costs more (school) time.

When talking about delays caused by the corona crisis, the strong link with growing up in poverty is often forgotten. Many children in the Netherlands grow up in poverty, and they suffer the most, also after the corona crisis. The program does not explicitly connect with poverty.

Social guidance committee

The minister wants to establish a social guidance committee. It is not yet clear how this committee will be organized, but student and parent organizations should play a role to stay directly involved.

More information

For more explanation you can read the letter that Ouders & Onderwijs and other parent organizations sent to the minister. For more information about the National Education Program, you can consult the House letter. Answers to questions about education during the corona period can be found on our FAQ page. You can also contact our staff by email: vraag@oudersenonderwijs.nl or phone: 088-6050101. We are available on weekdays from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm and 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm.