More university students enrolling in teacher training programmes

After years of decline, this academic year has seen a slight increase in students beginning university teacher training programmes. In total, there are 1,784 new enrolments. That’s over a hundred more than a year ago.

Given the teacher shortage, universities have been running a campaign for programmes and pathways leading to teaching jobs for some time. This effort is now bearing fruit, they say in a press release.

The universities offer a wide range of options. You can enrol in a university version of the teacher training college to teach in primary education, or you can start working in lower secondary education after completing a module (or minor) of 30 credits. In addition, there are master’s programmes and so-called lateral entry tracks to become a teacher in upper secondary education, specifically in the havo and vwo streams.

Primary education

This year, the university programmes for primary education attracted 500 new students, which is more than ever before. Even during the peak year of 2020/2021, there were fewer students. This figure includes not only the university teacher training college but also a special master’s programme that has existed for three years.

However, the fact that students start the programme does not guarantee that they will obtain their diploma. In September 2016 and 2017, around 350 students enrolled in the university teacher training college, while the number of diplomas issued three, four, or five years later hovers around 200.

Master programmes

A more significant development may be the turnaround in educational master’s programmes. From more than 1,000 new students in 2020, participation dropped to 665 in 2023, but this academic year (2024/2025), the number of first-year students in these programmes has rebounded to 727.

If you add together all the modules (30 credits), master’s programmes, and lateral entry tracks (one or two years), the total number of participants rises from 1,618 last year to 1,784 this year.

Caspar van den Berg, chairman of the university association UNL, is pleased: “It is excellent news that we are managing to turn the tide and that more students are opting for a university teacher training programme. However, we are not there yet, as the teacher shortage remains significant.”

Shortage

In comparison, 12,000 to 13,000 students annually begin teacher training programmes at universities of applied sciences, nearly half of whom are training to become primary school teachers (pabo).

In total, there is a shortfall of about 3,800 teachers in secondary education and 7,700 in primary education. Part of this is due to hidden shortages, where unqualified teachers are standing in front of classes.

The shortage is expected to increase. It varies by subject (the largest shortages are in Dutch and mathematics) and by region. For instance, there are significant shortages in Zeeland and Flevoland, as well as in the region around Gouda.