Education Council suggests nationwide teacher exam

The Education Council has advised the Minister of Education to implement a nationwide exam for prospective teachers at the end of their training. This measure aims to ensure that every teacher, regardless of their educational path, is demonstrably ready to teach.

Currently, new teachers must pass an entrance exam at the beginning of their training. However, the council states that these initial exams are not indicative of the level achieved by the end of the program and may also hinder enrollment.

The council hopes this advice will safeguard education quality and address the teacher shortage. At present, nearly four hundred different routes exist for becoming a teacher, ranging from university and college programs to lateral entry paths, each with different regulations.

“We can use every teacher we can get, which is why there are many flexible routes, such as lateral entry,” says Education Council chair Louise Elffers. Although there are legal requirements regarding subject content, teaching methods, and pedagogy, the council finds them too broadly defined.

Consequently, it is uncertain whether all programs train teachers to at least the desired minimum level. Therefore, the council proposes setting specific standards for all teacher training programs and testing new teachers at the end to ensure they meet these criteria.

“Regardless of the path you have taken, we want to be certain you are ready to teach,” Elffers stated.

Source: NOS

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