Slightly fewer than four in ten (36.2%) secondary school teachers in Flanders do not have the necessary teaching qualifications, according to statistics published by the Flemish Department of Education.
Only 28.3% of teachers had a diploma deemed “sufficient” for their teaching post and 7.8% held a degree in a different subject.
In primary education, the statistics are more positive, with 84.9% of teachers holding the required qualifications.
Nevertheless, only 10.8% of degrees held by primary school teachers were considered sufficient and 4.4% held a degree in a subject different to what they were teaching.
"We want more real subject teachers in the classroom," said Flemish Education Minister Zuhal Demir in response to the staistics." Because subject teachers are people who have often consciously chosen this job at a young age. During their training, they are prepared for everything that the teaching profession entails."
The Minister claimed there was no shortage of citizens with a teaching degree in Flanders, but rather a shortage of "people with a teaching degree who want to teach."
Next week, Flanders will organise further social consultations on measures to make the teaching profession more attractive.
