News item | 21-10-2022 | 16:30
There is great enthusiasm among schools to ensure that every student learns to read, write and count well. A leading group of schools will start working this school year, with EUR 222 million available. A total of 645 schools now receive extra money to improve basic skills. From next week, aid teams will also start working with 144 primary schools, secondary schools and schools for (secondary) special education. These basic teams help with what the school needs to strengthen the basic skills of language, arithmetic/mathematics, citizenship and digital literacy.
Dennis Wiersma (Primary and Secondary Education): ,,Every student has to leave school with a solid foundation. That is why we are going to support schools better for this: tailor-made support teams will work with what the school needs. For example organizing extra help to relieve teachers or help with the introduction of new teaching methods. This is different from what we’ve done in the past, so we’re sure to see things that improve the approach further. But I’m glad we can provide this help as soon as possible. This allows teacher teams to focus more on their students and the basic skills, so that students progress.”
Approach
The master plan for basic skills was launched in May to raise the basic skills of students to a higher level. To get this off to a flying start, an extra 222 million euros is available for this school year for a total of 645 schools. They will work with an approach that is substantiated by knowledge about what works from science and practice. What is needed differs per school, but one can think of encouraging reading or further training of teachers. Schools are helped with this, among other things: an overview with effective ways to improve basic skills.
Basic teams
In addition, 144 schools are offered extra support from the basic teams. Schools indicate that they want different kinds of help, from guiding volunteers and organizing school activities to relieve teachers, to opting for new teaching methods. Starting next week, the basic teams will hold an intake interview with each school to find out what type of help is needed per individual school. They then help the school with a plan and the necessary help, so that a tailor-made basic team is created for each school.
To this end, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science is seeking collaboration with all kinds of organizations that can provide relevant expertise and assistance, such as Kennisnet, the Taalunie and ProDemos. The teams do not provide teachers themselves, but do provide support and helping hands with the organizational and educational challenges facing the school. The school is in control. Most schools are expected to start at the beginning of next year, with schools with the greatest challenges being given priority in filling in a basic team.
Lots of enthusiasm
There has been a tremendous amount of interest in this aid. There were a total of 5,247 requests for extra money, of which 762 schools also wanted support from the aid teams. There is still room for a limited number of schools this year, which is why a selection has been made. 91 schools were immediately drawn for a subsidy and support teams. In addition, 53 schools that have been selected by lot are also approached by the aid teams, which have been assessed by the Inspectorate as ‘very weak’ or ‘inadequate’. These schools already receive support through existing improvement processes, the support teams can help with the implementation. In total, the basic teams will work with 144 schools this school year. The approach with support teams is being expanded step by step, so that even more schools can be reached next year. This extra, public aid must eventually be available to all schools.