University teacher training enrollment in the Netherlands surges amid teacher shortage

University-level teacher training programs in the Netherlands are seeing a notable increase in popularity this academic year, De Telegraaf reports. According to Universiteiten van Nederland (UNL), the number of new enrollments rose from 2,065 last year to 2,284 this year, reversing a year-long downward trend.

The rise is evident in both primary and secondary education programs. “It’s very good news that we’re managing to turn the tide,” UNL chair Caspar van den Berg told De Telegraaf. “In recent years, universities have invested heavily in expanding and diversifying teacher education programs. That is now beginning to pay off.”

Among the initiatives is a pilot program launched in several regions that allows career switchers—who have not studied Dutch at the university level—to earn their teaching qualification for Dutch in secondary schools within three years.

Jacobijn Olthoff, director of teacher education at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and chair of the National Council of University Teacher Training Programs, told De Telegraaf that the shift is significant. “University graduates without a subject-specific background used to have to enroll in an HBO program to become teachers, which many were reluctant to do,” Olthoff explained. “Now, it’s becoming more widely known that you can also earn your teaching credentials within the university system.”

To encourage broader participation, universities are offering orientation programs that allow candidates to explore teaching before committing fully. “This has led to a noticeable increase in career switchers,” Olthoff told De Telegraaf. “Moreover, interest is growing in shortage subjects like math and Dutch.”

UNL also noted that several universities began offering master’s programs specifically for primary education three years ago. In addition, universities jointly launched a campaign last year emphasizing the societal importance of teaching.

Anne Fleur Kortekaas-Rijlaarsdam, director of the Educatieve Master Primair Onderwijs (Educational Master's in Primary Education) at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the UvA and Leiden University, and national representative for university-based primary teacher education, told De Telegraaf that the perception of teaching has improved. “The profession is no longer framed as something for those who simply have a passion for working with children. It’s increasingly seen as a vital role in transferring knowledge and preparing children for society,” she said.

Kortekaas-Rijlaarsdam acknowledged that starting as a teacher can be difficult. “Classroom management is tough at first, so it’s hard work,” she told De Telegraaf. "But because university students tend to be older and have made a deliberate choice, we generally see them become effective teachers more quickly."

She added that university master’s students often have prior education more relevant to teaching, especially in primary schools. “The beauty of it is that they can apply that expertise directly,” she told De Telegraaf. “For instance, students with a background in linguistics can be placed in schools where language development is still a major challenge.”

Teacher training programs at the HBO level are also experiencing growth. In February, the Association of Universities of Applied Sciences reported a 5.9 percent rise in new enrollments. That growth has been attributed to the profession’s improved image, recent substantial salary increases, and more diverse career paths.

“In the past, if teachers wanted to move up, their only real option was to become a principal,” Karin van Weegen, chair of the National Council for Primary Teacher Education Programs, told De Telegraaf. “Today, teachers can also specialize in areas like language or math instruction.” Despite the developments, education experts warn that the shortage is far from over.