The government has felt for some time that people should continue their education throughout their working lives. This makes them more flexible when the economy takes a downturn or when there are new opportunities up for grabs.

The government underscored the importance of life-long learning in the Budget Memorandum but no extra funding was made available. The umbrella organisations of vocational schools, universities of applied sciences and universities believe this should change. Today they presented their proposal to Minister Koolmees of Social Affairs and Employment.

Right to learn

The educational institutes believe that the costs associated with the right to learn (from the age of 27 and for 40 years) should be easy to recoup. Fewer people will become unemployed and people will be more productive at work, which will also result in fewer people on benefits and higher tax revenues.

And should it be possible to save up your learning rights and take ten weeks’ worth of extra training after ten years for example? The plan has not been fleshed out yet to that extent, said a spokesperson.

Extra training is especially necessary at the lower end of the labour market. Lower-skilled workers should even be given a second week, according to the three educational sectors. And employees with a vocational mbo-3 or mbo-4 diploma should be given an additional half a week.

The institutions of higher professional education and university education are working to improve their shorter courses so that those who want to retrain on some level are not immediately required to complete multi-year programmes resulting in new degrees.