Government launches campaign to help reduce teachers shortage

The State Secretary of Primary and Secondary Education, Marielle Paul, has said that the job title of the teacher has an unjustified image problem. She hopes to be able to rectify this with a large government campaign lasting several years. This campaign can be seen from Tuesday on bus shelters with digital screens, in radio commercials, and online.

“I hope more people are going to choose a job in this beautiful trade,” the state secretary added. She hopes that this will lead to a reduction in the teacher shortage. There is a shortage of 7,700 full-time jobs in just the primary education sector. The Ministry of Education launched the campaign together with the education sector.

The first few months of the commercials are targeted toward convincing people with different jobs to become teachers. Prospective students, in particular, will be urged to take a teacher training course at the end of this year.

The ministry thinks that there are many misconceptions about teaching. The salary is “often underestimated,” and people sometimes think it is “monotonous” and that it is "a kind of final station" to stand in front of a class.

This image could be changed by the campaign. Teachers earn a “serious salary” of 6,200 euros gross a month on average.

In addition, they can develop themselves “completely” according to the ministry. This is possible from within the job position, but can also be achieved by getting a different function within the school, like an internal supervisor or school director, or by switching subjects or schools.