‘Reopen higher education too’

On Monday 1 March, secondary and secondary vocational education will partially reopen, according to various media reports. However, higher education will have to wait a bit longer, to the disappointment of Dutch National Students Union ISO.

According to insiders, it was agreed in the Catshuis on Sunday that the curfew would be extended for another three weeks. However, this would allow the easing of some measures.

It is ‘nearly certain’ that secondary school pupils may go back to school more often. Currently, only final exam candidates and vulnerable pupils have classes in person. Secondary vocational education may also be able to welcome more students again.

Tunnel

On Tuesday morning, the cabinet will take a decision about the new measures, after which a press conference will be held on Tuesday evening. ISO hopes that the cabinet will also offer prospects for higher education. “Even if it’s only one day a week, we need to see a light at the end of the tunnel,” writes ISO president Dahran Çoban.

GroenLinks and the SP would definitely support this. In the NOS on 3 election programme, party leaders Jesse Klaver and Lilian Marijnissen talked about the huge importance of higher education opening again.