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

Primary school teachers will get a contribution of EUR 500 a year and secondary school teachers EUR 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 percent of secondary school teachers will have a master’s degree.

Currently around 37 percent 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.