Towering teacher shortage grows to almost 10 percent in primary school
The national teacher shortage in primary education increased last year to 9700 full-time jobs, or 9,5 percent. The shortage is proportionally greatest in the five major cities (15,2 percent), in schools with a more complex pupil population and in special primary education.
Picture: Type tank
This is evident from the Trend report Education labor market in primary, secondary and secondary vocational education 2022, which is today appeared. The national deficit in primary education has increased compared to last year, when the percentage was 9,1 percent. The shortage - open positions and hidden vacancies - amounts to 6200 regular jobs and 3500 for long-term replacement. The shortage of school leaders is now about 1100 FTEs, or 13,6 percent.
In the five major cities, the need is higher than in the rest of the country: 15,2 percent versus 8,5 percent. Deficits have risen to record levels in four of the five major cities in the past year, only Rotterdam deviates in a favorable sense. The figures also show the major role of hidden vacancies: the many jobs that are filled by unauthorized colleagues and by lateral entrants who are independently put in front of a group.
Don't say no one saw this coming. We have been sounding the alarm for so long now, far too little has happened for years
"Incredibly serious and worrying." AObchairman Tamar van Gelder the figures. "We know we can't deliver the quality we want, that's a bitter truth. And don't say no one saw this coming. We've been sounding the alarm for so long now, far too little has happened for years."
Unevenly divided
The shortages are unevenly distributed: not only between different regions within the country, but also between different districts within the major cities. While many schools in the G5 are at a loss, 11 percent say they have no shortages. 'We now see an unfair distribution: one school has enough people, the other far too few. Pupils are the victims of this and they are often the pupils who need the teachers extra', write education ministers Dennis Wiersma and Robbert Dijkgraaf to the House of Representatives.
We now see an unfair distribution: one school has enough people, the other far too few. Students are the victims of this
A small decrease in the deficit for primary education is expected in the coming years, but from 2027 - if policy remains unchanged - the shortages will increase again towards 2032 in 2143, partly thanks to a growth in the number of pupils. to some 2027 full-time jobs in XNUMX. There will initially be an increase in this in the coming years, which will level off later, mainly due to a fall in student numbers. The shortages are greatest in subjects such as mathematics, Dutch, French, physics and German.
Last year, the researchers found significantly more online vacancies for secondary education teachers than the year before - an indication of the increasing need. Three-quarters of the vacancies receive a response from less than five candidates (previous year: 43 percent), a quarter have not yet been filled after three months (previous year: 9 percent) and no fewer than 62 percent of the vacancies are filled by secondary schools. seen as difficult to fulfill (previous year: 37 percent). The number of online vacancies also increased in the other sectors last school year. Incidentally, according to the report, MBO does have enough teachers, partly because the number of students is falling.
Shredded
'The urgency remains as high as ever', the ministers write in their response to the House of Representatives. The approach to the teacher shortage has so far been too fragmented and noncommittal. They hope to change this by stimulating more cooperation in educational regions that have yet to be formed, in which school boards, teacher training institutes and the profession must work together.
The education regions should provide a counter for all regional development opportunities, but also play a role in recruiting, supervising and matching education staff. To manage the education regions, a 'decisive national organization' will be set up within the ministry that will focus on the teacher shortage. The ministers of education follow suit an advice released under the direction of 'quartermaster' Lodewijk Asscher. In addition, in August 2024 there must be legal requirements for strategic personnel policy at school boards, which the Education Inspectorate can supervise.
As with everything, this approach stands or falls with the implementation. But I'm glad that direction is finally being taken, we've been asking for that for years
"As with everything, this approach stands or falls with the elaboration. But I am glad that direction is finally being taken, we have been asking for this for years. And fortunately steps are now being taken in more areas," Van Gelder responds, referring to It work plan 'Together for the best education' that also saw the light today.
"It is also about looking at competences without compromising on quality, looking at reducing teaching hours so that there is more time for pre- and post-work, about the courses and a curriculum consultation in which the professional group is represented. Everything to make education more attractive to work, without sacrificing the quality of education. So I am pleased that steps are being taken now. But that does not mean that it will be solved tomorrow."
To tempt
There are already recommendations on the teacher shortage from, among others, the Education Council and Merel van Vroonhoven (2020). Asscher now calls the latter report an 'important source of inspiration'. Measures that, according to the quartermasters, can yield the most benefits are not only increasing (lateral) intake and reducing outflow, but also tempting teachers to work more hours.
Earlier research by the PO Labor Market Platform points points out that teachers in practice are often not eager to extend their hours due to the workload. The quartermasters hope that regional solutions with childcare, housing and flexible working hours can change this. 'Questions like, 'can the schedule be adjusted?', 'can the dog come along?'; with a good personnel policy and sufficient resources, people can be tempted to work more hours and, moreover, be retained for education', the advice states.
Read and sign the manifesto: Every child a qualified teacher in 2030. Also read other articles about it teacher shortage on this site.
