In the coming years, a shortage of 5000 primary school teachers
This year there is a shortage of 1700 primary school teachers. That shortage will rise to nearly 5000 full-time teachers in 2024. This is evident from the Labor Market Analysis for Primary Education by the Labor Market Platform PO.
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The shortage arises because many teachers are retiring and the decline in student numbers is slower than expected. The supply of new teachers, especially from the PABO, is insufficient to meet the demand, reports the platform - an expertise center of employees and employers in primary education.
Generations
“The growing teacher shortage remains a major concern,” says Ton Groot Zwaaftink, chairman of the platform. "Absolute shortages will be strongest in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Northeast Brabant." According to him, the shortage is bad for the development opportunities of future generations. "Laying a good basis for the opportunities of students is only possible if schools do not have to take emergency measures due to staff shortages."
Side entrants
The platform observes that the number of side entrants to primary education is increasing. But it is not yet predictable to what extent they can offer a - partial - solution to the teacher shortage. Groot Zwaaftink: “In a few years' time we will know whether the terms of employment and working conditions are such that the side entrants will continue to work in education.
Despite the significant teacher shortages, employers apparently refuse to engage teachers and teaching assistants
A striking finding of the report is that, despite the shortages, the number of temporary jobs in primary education has increased in recent years. The number of permanent contracts has decreased in recent years from 94 to 83 percent. It Education magazine reported in June also about this trend. “Despite the significant teacher shortages, employers apparently refuse to engage teachers and teaching assistants,” says AObdriver Eugenie Stolk. "And that while a permanent contract is often offered for vacancies for management personnel."
Workload
The report also shows that staff in primary education are generally satisfied with the content of the work. People are less positive about their salary, and the work pressure is high: more than two thirds of the staff indicate that they always or often have to work a lot.
Starters
The counselors of starting teachers also appear to be a concern. "The number of starters receiving guidance is increasing," the platform reports. 'but guidance has not yet been structured in all schools. In addition, graduates with a temporary job appear to receive guidance less often than their colleagues with a regular job. '
Supporters
Finally, the platform reports that it has increased the number of educational support staff in schools. That trends has been reported before, and is probably caused by the fact that schools are using the money to combat the workload to hire support workers - although still mainly in temporary jobs.
Supporters and school leaders
Earlier this week, the PO council also released figures on the shortages. from research of Duo Educational research among three hundred school boards shows that the teacher shortage has grown again by about 5 percent compared to last year. According to this research, primary schools still exist after the summer holidays 3500 teachers, 400 support staff and 320 school leaders shortage.
