Teachers, Teacher Education, and Professional Development
Candidates must earn a diploma from one of the Netherlands’ primary school teacher education colleges to qualify to work as a primary school teacher.14 Primary school teacher education is provided at the higher vocational education programs level and usually takes four years to complete. Students with a diploma at the highest level from preuniversity secondary education, senior general secondary education, or vocational secondary education are eligible to apply to these programs. Qualified primary school teachers are allowed to teach all grades and all subjects in primary education, with the exception of physical education.
Teacher Education Specific to Mathematics and Science
Since 2006, students starting at a teacher education college have been tested on their Dutch language and mathematics skills in order to guarantee standards of competence.15 If a student fails the test, he or she has one school year to improve his or her language and mathematics skills. If the student is not capable of passing the test by the end of the year, he or she cannot continue to the next year.
From the first year of teacher education, students gain practical work experience through regular teaching practice in primary schools. Approximately one quarter of teacher education is devoted to instructional practice. Halfway through teacher education, students can choose to specialize in lower primary (Kindergarten to Grade 2) or upper primary (Grades 3 to 6) education.
Secondary school teachers are subject teachers.16 Most are trained in one subject as well as general teaching at teacher education colleges for secondary education. These teacher education colleges admit students with a diploma at the highest level from preuniversity secondary education, senior general secondary education, or vocational secondary education. In the final year of their program, students gain practical work experience during a combined period of work and study at secondary schools. With a bachelor’s diploma from a teacher education college, a teacher is qualified as a “second grade” teacher and is allowed to teach the lower grades (Grades 7, 8, and 9) of senior general secondary education and preuniversity secondary education, and all grades of prevocational and vocational secondary education. Teachers qualified at the “first grade” level often have a university degree in their subject area (e.g., a master’s degree in mathematics) with an additional master’s degree in general teaching. “First grade” teachers are qualified to teach all grades in all tracks in secondary education.
Requirements for Ongoing Professional Development
A variety of courses and other voluntary professional development activities are available for both primary and secondary school teachers. Professional development courses for teachers are offered by teacher education colleges, universities, or commercial institutes, as well as organizations offering educational advice and support. In addition, teachers can participate in subject-related workshops or conferences. Many general and subject-specific digital journals, magazines, and newsletters also are available for teachers.