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Many subjects in secondary education are struggling with a shortage of teachers. However, for the subject of Computer Science, the vacancy rate is already at 22.6% and is expected to increase to 61.4% by 2032. The consequence of the urgent shortage of Computer Science teachers and the fact that it is not a mandatory exam subject is that many schools do not (anymore) offer the subject to students in the upper years of havo/vwo. In a society that is increasingly digitising, it is essential to educate professionals who can work within the digital domain and to teach students the necessary skills as early as possible.
To combat the current and future shortage of Computer Science teachers, Dialogic has conducted research for the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science to explore if there is support for a direct route to teaching Computer Science. This direct route involves establishing second and first degree Computer Science teacher training programmes at universities of applied sciences (hbo). Discussions with teacher training institutions revealed limited support for this direct route to first degree Computer Science teaching. This is particularly related to the lack of support for the intended second degree Computer Science teacher training programme at universities of applied sciences, with expected insufficient enrollment.
In this research, Dialogic also explored potential alternatives for (short-term) training and supplying Computer Science teachers. Four solutions have emerged, which can be further explored by involved parties:
- A first degree Computer Science teacher training programme at universities of applied sciences (allowing students from other disciplines than second degree Computer Science teacher training to enroll).
- A generic first degree Science teacher training programme with a Computer Science track at universities of applied sciences (hbo).
- Expanding the admission policy to demonstrate subject knowledge for the first degree Computer Science teacher training programme at universities (WO).
- Expanding the frameworks of teacher training programmes for career changers entering the profession.
The research has been published on aanpaklerarentekort.nl and the report can be downloaded here.
For more information about this research, please contact Tessel Blom.