If it depends on CD&V, fringe benefits should be introduced in education. In addition, starting teachers must be given the prospect of one year of full-time job security. Both measures are part of a package of proposals by Flemish Member of Parliament Loes Vandromme (CD&V) to make the teaching profession more attractive.
The quality of education is under pressure in Flanders. This has been shown many times in research. The teacher shortage plays an important role in this. “Unfortunately, the debate is overshadowed by balloon releases here and there. That is unworthy of the debate and the important role of the teacher,” says Vandromme. “The job of a teacher must again be given more prestige and respect. You don’t do that by treating them like pawns on an ideological chessboard.”
Vandromme wants to give school boards room for a modern HR policy. It must be possible to offer starting teachers a guaranteed career path. This should prevent starters from dropping out because they have to gather hours in different schools.
Fringe benefits
Later in his career, Vandromme proposes to provide fringe benefits such as in the private sector, whereby part of the remuneration can be personalized, based on local needs. Taking more years of financial seniority into account should also convince more people to take the step from the private sector to education.
In addition, Vandromme believes that school boards should be given more autonomy to determine who can be “deemed sufficient” to teach a certain subject or be appointed to a certain position. The school boards must also be given more freedom to use the allocated resources through one package of personnel resources and one package of operational resources. This budget must then be known in good time in order to properly solve the personnel puzzle.
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