Nikolaj Nielsen
EU Observer
EU countries are beginning to note shortages of specialised teachers in a problem that looks set to get worse, the European Commission has warned.
The commission study – out Friday (10 February) – noted that a startling 40 percent of German 15 year-olds have no specialised science teacher and that around 30 percent of Dutch students of the same age have no specialised teacher in science or maths.
Forty five percent of 15 year-olds in Belgium’s French community also do not have proper maths teachers.
The problem comes from the ageing pool in the profession – over 30 percent of teachers in Germany, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium are currently approaching retirement age. Nearly half the primary teachers in Germany, Italy and Sweden are older than 50.
Read More: EU at risk of teacher shortage
Cartoon by Bob Moran
