Skater Irene Schouten opened the new technology square at the Martinuscollege in Grootebroek today. It is equipped with the latest equipment and in collaboration with technical companies in West Friesland. To get young people enthusiastic about technology, but also to retain them for the region.
Director Jan Jacob Jaasma does not hide his enthusiasm: “You want to fascinate children. You ensure that they come here from primary education with our teaching boxes. And you also want to engage them, so that is why cooperation with the business community is important. they also stay here, because you don’t have to go to Amsterdam for a nice job.”
Staff shortage in the technical sector
There are practical rooms for all types of technology: from ICT and design to everything that has to do with construction. There is also a tech lab with the most modern gadgets. The students are enthusiastic. “You can do much, much more now,” says one. Another says: “Everywhere in technology there are too few hands. As a result, we also have a housing crisis.”
For skater Irene Schouten, the visit to the Martinus College brought her back to her youth when she went to school there. “Very nice to be here again, it has changed enormously here.” Text continues under the read-too
She had no experience with technology at the time, but that has changed. “I have to deal with it every day. My husband is a carpenter and contractor, and I have to deal with my skating equipment. That is very important. The layman does not see that on TV, but we are working on that,” says Schouten.
She continues: “I am very happy that they are paying attention to it here. My husband also often says that there are too few people in construction. It is good that they are drawing attention to it here.”
Engage students
Director Jaasma is also happy with how things have turned out and sees opportunities for the future. “We are the only ones in East Friesland that have something like this. And there are very nice and technically high-quality companies here. We hope to attract our students to them. They can sometimes also teach here with their specific expertise.”