Outgoing Minister Robert Dijkgraaf (Education) believes all higher vocational education students deserve an “adequate” training allowance. Currently, more than four in five teaching internships remain unpaid, according to research of around 1,700 students.
Training compensation varies widely by sector, according to ResearchNed research conducted by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Interns in the economics, technology and ICT sectors always receive compensation. Teaching assistants and healthcare interns are more likely to receive no compensation.
Dijkgraaf finds it “concerning” that educational interns typically do not receive compensation for their internship. “Especially at a time of significant staff shortages, all educational interns should be valued.” He believes there is also room for improvement in healthcare.
Dijkgraaf announced that the government would investigate annually whether collective labor agreements had been concluded in relation to internships at HBO. Statistics Netherlands will also track internship allowance levels for MBO, HBO and WO training. Currently, the so-called Employer-Education Training Compact applies only to MBO training.
“Mandatory compensation makes internships easier.”
The Intercity Student Consultation Organization (ISO) believes that the training allowance should become the norm. The interest group says the internship market will become more accessible by requiring a training allowance.
Chairman Demi Janssen finds that interns often have little time for part-time work in addition to their internship. “Then they have to take on additional debt or work evenings and weekends to make ends meet.”
The outgoing government does not want to oblige employers. “The training allowance ultimately remains something between employers and employees,” says a spokesman for Minister Dijkgraaf.
Three quarters of the higher vocational education students participating in the study receive compensation. Trainees who receive a training allowance earn an average of €2.55 per hour. On average, they complete a training period of 31 hours per week. Then their monthly amount reaches 342 euros.
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