Ov-card for practical education track and basic skills in debate in the House of Representatives.

Ov-card for practical education track and basic skills in debate in the House of Representatives.

Last Week, The House Of Representatives Talked With The Education Ministers About The Education Budget For 2024. It Was The First Time The New House Spoke About Education. During The Two Days Of Debate, They Covered Many Topics. Politicians Asked For Attention To Travel Costs For Students In The Practical Education Track, Language And Math Levels, And The Parent Contribution.

Travel Costs Practical Education Track 

About Twelve Thousand Students From The Practical Education Track Travel Three To Four Days A Week To An Internship To Learn A Skill. Former Minister Paul Decided Just Before Christmas That These Students Would Get Their Travel Costs Reimbursed Starting In 2026. The Practical Education Track Urged The House Of Representatives To Arrange This Sooner. We Wrote About This Article Earlier. Lisa Westerveld (GreenLeft-PvdA) Submitted An Amendment To Arrange That These Students Also Get Their Travel Costs Reimbursed In The Period Until 2026. Although The House Will Vote On The Proposal Later, There Seems To Be A Large Majority For The Plan. 

 

Student Transport

Westerveld Also Asked For Attention To Student Transport. Driver Shortages Cause Many Students With Support Needs To Spend Hours In The Van On The Way To School Or Sometimes Not Be Able To Go To School. Westerveld Thinks We Have Waited Too Long For Improvement And Wants The Minister To Take Action. Other Members Of The House, Van Zanten (BBB) And Stoffer (SGP), Also Mentioned Student Transport In Their Contributions. 

 

Basic Skills 

All Education Spokespersons From The Political Parties Mentioned The Poor Results From The Recently Presented PISA Study. It Showed That One Third Of 15-Year-Olds Are Not Reading Well Enough To Join Society Well. Students’ Reading Skills Are Decreasing. Political Parties Are Worried About This And Want Improvement, But It Is Not Easy, Also Because Of The Large Teacher Shortage. Former Minister Paul Referred To The Masterplan Basic Skills, Which Must Get Students’ Language And Math Levels Back On Track Within 5 Years. 

Parent Contribution 

Members Beckerman (SP) And Pijpelink (GreenLeft-PvdA) Said They Want To Abolish The Parent Contribution. Earlier, A Broad Education Coalition Led By Ouders & Onderwijs And The VOO Already Called To Abolish The Contribution In Primary Education. We Are Happy With The Ongoing Attention To High School Costs For Parents. Together With The SP And D66, GreenLeft-PvdA Submitted A Motion Asking The Minister To Study Whether It Is Possible To Abolish The Parent Contribution. The Motion Will Be Voted On Next Week. If A Majority Votes For It, The Minister Must Study It. 

You Can Watch The Whole Debate At debatdirect.tweedekamer.nl.

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