The number of students applying for a place at a teacher training college (pabo) is down 30% on last year.

The teaching union AOb says the drop is unsurprising because entrance standards have been increased.

Pupils in vocational education (mbo) must now reach secondary (havo) levels in tests in geography, history and technology. To do so, they needed to take extra exams because no package of lessons contained all three subjects, the Telegraaf reports.

‘The requirements were announced in such a way that pupils see them as an entrance exam,’ according to the AOb.

Last year, 5,730 pupils began a teacher training course at one of the Netherlands’ 25 pabo colleges.