12 Sep 2023 at 05:18
Primary schools in carnival regions should be given an extra week of leeway to administer the progression test in group 8, according to a majority of the House of Representatives. Parliamentarians from D66, CDA, SP, PVV, GroenLinks and BBB have asked this question to outgoing education minister Mariëtte Paul.
If the minister again does not respond to this request, the MPs want to hold her accountable in a debate.
In North Brabant and Limburg, schools have been complaining for months that carnival next year will partly coincide with the advancement test. They must take this test in the first two full weeks of February, while Carnival starts on February 10.
Paul and her predecessor Dennis Wiersma have repeatedly said that schools have the space to administer the test before the start date.
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‘Government has no knowledge of the significance of carnival’
This shows “relatively little knowledge of the meaning of carnival and how it is organised”, Limburg municipalities recently wrote in a letter. Many activities take place in the days before carnival.
“Can you indicate why, despite repeated requests from schools, associations and municipal councilors, you persist in a term of a law that conflicts with the workplace?” the critical MPs ask Paul.
They are considering requesting a so-called interpellation debate if the minister does not respond to their request. This is a debate in which MPs call a minister to account on a specific issue. Afterwards, parliamentarians can urgently request Paul in a motion to adjust the test period.
Teachers also appeal to the minister
“It is better not to let this moment coincide with such a major event like carnival,” explains Kiki Hagen of D66. She stood in front of the classroom for years before she entered politics and then noticed how exciting the test is for children.
A spokesperson for Brabant deputy Jos van der Horst (culture, SP) said he was pleased with the news. “We previously insisted in a letter to the previous Minister of Education for an extension or relocation of the period for the progression test for group 8. We are pleased that this wish is being met by a parliamentary majority.”
Image: ANP
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2023-09-12 03:18:00
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