Priority arrangement brought Alkmaar teacher Lara to Westzaan, but where is the rest?

The the storm was expected. The scheme is intended to make it more attractive for teachers, among others, to come and work in Zaanstad. That’s why . has municipality of Zaanstad decided that applicants for these vacancies are given priority over a rental property.

Rien Spies, member of the Agora Executive Board, told NH Nieuws in January 2021: “I expect that there will be a lot of enthusiasm in the first instance and that will still be difficult to manage.”

‘Nice chance’

Initially, Astrid Lindström and Lisa Verweij were two of the five lucky ones. This was a big change for Lisa from Nijmegen, but she wanted to work in Zaanstad because she felt that children should not see seven or eight teachers in a year.

For Astrid, the arrangement was precisely the reason for doing an internship in the Zaan region. The teacher is originally from the adjacent Oostzaan, but she is still eligible.

A year later, Astrid feels completely at home in her house in Zaandam. “I had to renovate it a bit more than I expected in advance. I was a bit unlucky, the houses around me are better maintained.” Still, the 30-year-old is overjoyed with her home and would do it again in a heartbeat. “It was a great opportunity to get a home.”

Text continues under the 2021 reportage, where Astrid and Lisa received the key.

For Lara Dignum from Alkmaar, the arrangement is a reason to leave Alkmaar for Westzaan. She has not had such good experiences with previous employers in education and despite her shortened part-time education, she almost wanted to throw in the towel.

Until she arrives at a school in Westzaan via a secondment company. “This felt different. Lots of freedom for everything I could do and I also got support from the management.” After six months, Lara regained confidence, but when the management asked if she wanted to stay, she said no. “I wanted to find a house and a job in Alkmaar.”

School umbrella organization Agora offers her to participate in the relocation scheme. “They came up with proposals pretty quickly.” Unlike Astrid, Lara is not in a temporary home that is on the list for demolition. Something that worries Astrid a bit. “If I have to get out, what then?”

The teachers both wanted a house and their work area depended on it. The arrangement ensures that some teachers remain. “I do know that one of my colleagues living at home from Zaandam also offered it.”

Few reactions

So the project is not running smoothly and the idea of ​​attracting teachers outside the region is through the money that has been released according to Brigit Schumacher, board member of Zaan Primary, hardly applicable. “Before Corona, there were still teachers without a job outside the Randstad. We wanted to lure them to Zaanstad by helping them find a home.”

Employment has increased throughout the Netherlands as a result of the National Education Programme. As a result, the teachers can now work in their own region. Schumacher: “What we have to talk about are qualified teachers. This year there have been few reactions to the relocation scheme.”

Despite the limited reactions, Rien Spies of Agora argues that the scheme should remain. “It remains important that we offer this. People want to live and work close by. Also in view of the travel costs. If you want to attract a teacher from another region, then there must be accommodation.”