Teachers happier in NL than elsewhere

Results published yesterday by the Organization for Economic Society and Development (OESO) show that on average, Dutch teachers are happier then their foreign counterparts.

The 2013 Teaching and Learning International Survey published by the OESO gives an international perspective on teaching and learning. In a questionnaire of 100,000 teachers and 10,000 administration, the OESO questioned educators in 33 countries across the globe. The report gives a detailed picture of teaching life including teaching hours, work/life balance, and provisions made for separate work with students with learning disabilities. In the Netherlands, some 2,000 teachers from 130 schools participated.

Results revealed that on average, Dutch teachers are happy with their work and more satisfied then the majority of their foreign colleagues. In The Netherlands, teachers take five hours for weekly class preparation, compared to an international average of seven. TALIS also found high levels of teaching co-operation occurring the The Netherlands, with over 50% of principles reporting that they rarely need to take steps to support co-operation. Dutch teachers were also reported to actively take extra training to improve in their field, and enjoy high levels of job growth.

Emma Rapaport contributed to this report.