Most primary school teachers returning to work

The vast majority, 80 percent, of primary school teachers in the Netherlands are ready and excited to return to work on Monday. Others are more hesitant. But only 4 percent of teachers said they would not be going to school on Monday, and 3 percent are still considering, according to a survey by DUO and AD among 1,250 teachers.

With some teachers not going back to work, 57 percent of primary schools in the country will not start with their full team. At these schools, an average of three teachers will be absent. But 92 percent of teachers working at these schools don't think their absent colleagues will cause an insurmountable problem.

Three quarters of teachers think that their school management is doing everything it can to support them during this period, and 72 percent are very confident that their school is well prepared for the new situation. 

Almost all teachers said that clear agreements were made about how to deal with the new situation. This includes how parents drop off and pick up their kids, spreading out breaks so that there are not too many people on the playground, how teachers can get in touch with parents, the cleaning of classrooms, maintaining social distancing among teachers, and the walking routes in school pupils must adhere to.