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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 result of the acute shortage of Computer Science teachers and the fact that it is not a compulsory exam subject means that many schools no longer offer this subject to students in the upper years of havo/vwo education. In a society that is increasingly digitalising, it is important to educate professionals who can work within the digital domain and to teach students the necessary skills as early as possible.
To tackle the current and future shortage of Computer Science teachers, Dialogic has conducted research for the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science to investigate whether there is support for a direct route to teaching Computer Science. This direct route involves creating a second-grade and first-grade Computer Science teacher training programme at the university of applied sciences (hbo). Conversations with teacher training institutions have shown that there is not much support for this direct route to obtaining a first-grade Computer Science teaching qualification. This is particularly due to the lack of support for the intended second-degree Computer Science teacher training programme at the hbo, which is expected to have insufficient enrolment.
In this research, Dialogic also explored possible alternatives for (short-term) training and supplying Computer Science teachers. Four solutions have emerged that can be further explored by the parties involved:
- A first-grade Computer Science teacher training programme at the hbo (allowing students from other disciplines than the second-grade Computer Science teacher training programme to enrol).
- A generic first-grade Science teacher training programme with a Computer Science track at the hbo.
- Expanding the admission policy to demonstrate subject knowledge for the first-grade Computer Science teacher training programme at the university (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, contact Tessel Blom.