Harry Dobbelaar, director at Zonova, makes a simple calculation: at his schools in Amsterdam-Zuidoost he is short of 18 teachers, which has direct consequences for 450 children. Some of the 20 Southeast schools that Zonova operates may need to switch to a four-day school week or partial online education. “A serious problem,” says Dobbelaar.
The teacher shortage affects schools all over Amsterdam, but the problems are greatest in North, New West and Southeast. Education alderman Marjolein Moorman spoke to several school boards last week who say they can no longer open after the summer holidays. “Some schools are now working with emergency plans. Then students are offered sports or culture one day a week instead of being taught by a teacher.”
Earlier, the cabinet sent a letter to parliament about teacher shortages in large cities. Amsterdam (12.5 percent), Rotterdam (12.7 percent), The Hague (14.9 percent) and Almere (14.6 percent) take the cake. In other cities, classes are also regularly sent home because no teacher can stand in front of the class.
Aldermen warn that the shortage will only increase in the coming years and call on parties at the formation table to close the pay gap between teachers in primary and secondary education. The temporary corona funds, 8.5 billion euros that have been made available for catching up over a period of 2.5 years, should also become permanent.
According to Education Ministers Arie Slob and Ingrid van Engelshoven, this money should provide ‘a financially solid basis’ to cope with the consequences of the corona pandemic. It gives schools and institutions opportunities for a comprehensive approach, according to the ministers.
Perverse incentive
Nonsense, Moorman thinks. “We miss the link with tackling the teacher shortage. That is where money has to go. That has not happened, it has remained with temporary money.” In addition, according to the alderman, the plan provides a ‘perverse incentive’ in three ways.
Moorman: “Firstly, schools are working more with teachers on a freelance basis through secondment. As a result, teachers leave the profession and education becomes unstable. In addition, peripheral municipalities are stealing teachers with the help of the extra billions from the cabinet. Finally, large cities are trying to reduce the number of small schools, because they are more vulnerable to the teacher shortage and additional quality loss. But with the extra corona funds, it is more difficult to move small schools to merge. School boards would rather keep them open for a while.”
Bonuses
Amsterdam has taken several steps in recent years to make it more attractive for teachers to work in Amsterdam: teachers receive bonuses, houses and parking spaces have been made available and there is travel credit. Side entry was also used and schools were offered help from the municipality to lighten the workload. That does not appear to be enough to permanently combat the teacher shortage. Moorman also said earlier that the housing market makes it impossible for many teachers to continue living in the city.
The aldermen hope that the government will now really make an effort to make the profession more attractive, so that it becomes more popular and the outflow smaller. According to the aldermen, the fate of the teachers depends on the new coalition.
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