It was an unprecedented amount for education: 8.5 billion euros to eliminate the learning disadvantages as a result of school closures. A year ago, on February 17, 2021, former minister Arie Slob (Primary and Secondary Education, ChristenUnie) proudly announced the National Education Program (NPO). His successor, Minister Dennis Wiersma (VVD) is now doing what schools immediately asked for: give us more time to spend the money wisely.
The initial term of 2.5 years will be extended, the cabinet decided on Friday. Primary and secondary schools, together good for 5.8 billion from the pot, will be given two more years to spend the money. Part of the money is also shifting from primary schools to schools in secondary education, because the learning disadvantages are greater there.
He faces a big job, Dennis Wiersma says in a video call. “The foundation of our education has deteriorated in recent years. Students have become less and less good at reading, math and writing. Corona has set up the magnifying glass there again.”
Almost half of the school leaders have barely got around to doing anything with the National Education Programme.
“In some schools the money has indeed not yet been spent. That’s not surprising when you consider that they have been constantly overtaken by reality in the past year: another closure, classes at home again or teachers in quarantine. It’s amazing how schools have managed to get through this. Recently I spoke to many teachers who said: I need more time. I’m glad we can offer it now.”
The criticism was already expressed at the start of the NPO: 2.5 years is too short.
“I wasn’t there, haha. The NPO started in the hope that it would be as temporary as possible.”
Another complaint: there is money, but there are not enough people.
“Yes, the teacher shortage is affecting education. We are going to make the profession more attractive: salaries in primary education are going up, there is money to reduce the workload. And I want everyone to care about this. If you even think you can play a role in education, choose it, we need you.”
The teacher shortage has grown in recent months, partly due to the billions from the National Education Programme: more teachers are needed for all extra lessons and schools are luring teachers away from each other.
“We cannot solve this quickly. Schools are all fishing in the same pond and, like other sectors, are affected by the tight labor market.”
Meanwhile, the number of tutoring agencies is increasing rapidly. Are you concerned?
“Partly. Sometimes a school needs specific outside expertise. I was recently at a school in Rotterdam where the students hung out a lot during the school closures. They took the street into the classroom, were noisy and uncontrollable. That school would benefit from hiring someone with an understanding of group dynamics. Provided the quality is good of course.
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“But I don’t think it’s good if tutoring agencies take over the task of schools. Learning how to read and count well, the basics, is something the school has to do itself. When I hear the commercials of all kinds of commercial agencies that say: you have to come to us for good education… That raises my eyebrows. Those companies think: ha, there is money! But I think: no! We have to make sure that education can do this itself.”
Do you have a grip on the tutoring industry?
“I really want to do something against the excesses. We are going to check more closely on powers and whether or not we have a vog [verklaring omtrent het gedrag]† Perhaps a quality mark is needed for these companies.”
That doesn’t exist yet. Is it in the works?
“We are now working out how to do that. The Education Council has previously advised that a quality mark could help to prevent proliferation.”
How do you check whether the NPO’s money is well spent?
“We said at the start of the program that schools should work with proven effective methods. We monitor that, just like how students are doing and how well they are feeling.”
When is the NPO successful?
“For me, the NPO is one of the instruments to restore the basics in education. There is now considerably more money and attention for this, so we have to act now. I’m in a hurry. Children must quickly learn to count, write and read better. If that works, it’s done. But it is a long-term job.”
How are you going to do that?
“By giving schools confidence, but also helping them to make good choices. So not: here is money and success. No: we are going to offer help to ensure that schools can make it happen.”
The Court of Audit strongly criticized the NPO: money is wasted if you do not know exactly what you are doing. Can you reassure them?
“We have the same goal: I also want the money to be well spent. And that there is good support for students. We must do anything that helps. But sometimes you don’t know in advance. You have to act with the knowledge you have at the time. At the same time, of course, I want the money to end up well. I am keen on that.”
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A version of this article also appeared in NRC on the morning of February 28, 2022
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