“Een kwestie van lange adem: Historische analyse van het beleid op het terrein van het lerarentekort”

At the request of the OCW Committee of the House of Representatives, this study was conducted into the policy pursued since 1993 aimed at preventing and reducing the quantitative and qualitative shortage of teachers in primary education and the lessons that can be learned from it. It is striking how current issues concerning labour market shortages for teachers, the organisation of education, the quality of teacher training and the professionalisation of teachers have a long history, with recurring emphases and variations on the same themes. That is not to say that no progress has been made. Progress has indeed been made, albeit mostly in small steps. However, given the current and expected shortages, the policy is not sufficiently effective. What can we learn from the past that will help us improve future policy aimed at tackling the teacher shortage? 

The starting point for our analysis is the year 1993, when the Committee on the Future of Teaching (i.e. the Van Es Committee) was the first to publish a report on teaching, entitled Een beroep met perspectief. De toekomst van het leraarschap (A profession with prospects. The Future of Teaching). Based on three sources, our study provides insight into the policy dynamics and management dilemmas of teacher policy since 1993. Firstly, vacancy data and data on the labour market position of graduates of secondary teacher training programmes (HBO monitor) from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and the ROA respectively for the period from 1993 onwards. Secondly, a self-compiled database containing 72 policy measures in the field of teacher shortages since 1993. Thirdly, 17 interviews to provide background information, context and specific policy considerations within teacher policy. The report identifies the most important lessons that can be learned from this, distinguishing between policy, management and implementation.
 

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Cörvers, F., Somers, M., van der Aa, R., Wisse, R., & van der Meer, M. (2026). Een kwestie van lange adem: Historische analyse van het beleid op het terrein van het lerarentekort. Maastricht University, Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market. ROA Reports No. 002