Teachers in Holland to get cash and time off for training to boost standards

DutchNews reports today that teachers in Holland are to get government cash to pay for retraining as part of a €1.2bn package of measures to improve Dutch school standards.

Primary school teachers will get a contribution of €500 a year and secondary school teachers €600, education minister Jet Busssemaker told MPs in a briefing on Thursday. They will also be allowed time off to follow courses aimed at improving their skills.

The cabinet hopes that by 2020 up to 50% of secondary school teachers will have a master’s degree. Currently around 37% do so.

The cabinet has also agreed to spend more money on reducing the pressure on teachers by employing an extra 1,200 classroom assistants and school concierges.