The Ministry of Education has received a new complaint about the behavior of Minister Dennis Wiersma (Education, VVD). During a conference on 25 years of Practical Education in Bussum on Monday 12 June, the minister is said to have been annoying to a visitor, who filed an official complaint about this with the ministry two days later. Wiersma reported sick on Friday.
A working visit to India that was to take place this week has been cancelled.
This confirms the Ministry of Education. In recent weeks, Wiersma expressed regret in various places about tantrums towards employees at the department, previously at the Ministry of Social Affairs and in the VVD group of the House of Representatives.
Also read this article: The tantrums of Minister Wiersma are not an incident but a pattern
Work on behavior
He admitted after NRC had spoken to eighteen people who worked or had worked with him that he had been “a jerk” and had “disrespected” people.
At the VVD congress on 3 June, Wiersma apologized to the hundreds of VVD members present for his behaviour. “I made mistakes, I was too fierce. That’s not good and I’m very sorry about that. I also want to say sorry here,” said Wiersma.
On May 23, he was called to account by the VVD party in the House of Representatives. He had to apologize there for yelling at personal assistants a few years earlier. Group chairman Sophie Hermans said that this was the last warning for Wiersma. His behavior should change.
Wiersma himself said: “I have adjusted my behavior and am more alert to it.”
Reaction Sector Council
In a response, the Sector Council for Practical Education says that an incident occurred in Bussum on June 12, with the minister and someone from the organization. “The Sector Council’s main interest is the well-being of our colleagues.” According to a press statement.
This message was updated at 16.14 with a response from the Sector Council for Practical Education.