Primary school teachers reject four-day week amid staff shortage
School leaders in the Netherlands are opting against the idea of a four-day week for primary schools amid a critical...
Dutch primary school teachers are rejecting the notion of a four-day work week amid a severe shortage of educators. According to a survey conducted by Nu.nl and the Academy & Association of School Leaders (AVS), only three out of 308 school principals, less than 1%, have chosen to reduce the number of school days for pupils as a solution to the crisis.
The shortage of teachers is significant, with around 5,800 individuals needed nationwide, accounting for approximately 6.3% of all teachers. Despite an increase in teacher numbers since 2024, when the shortage was at 8.1%, low salaries and long working hours continue to deter potential candidates from pursuing a career in teaching.
The retirement of the older generation of educators is also contributing to the widening gap. Leanne der Steeg, a policy advisor at AVS, expressed concern that a four-day school week may not alleviate the issue and could potentially harm education. She highlighted the additional "hassle" that comes with a four-day school week, such as making up missed teaching time, assigning homework, and accommodating working parents.
Moreover, shifting a teacher's workload to a different day would require careful planning and preparation.
Written by urgent.news from DutchNews's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
