Some 30,000 Dutch primary school teachers are expected in The Hague on Thursday to take part in a demonstration in support of their pay claim and better working conditions.

On Wednesday RTL and the Telegraaf said the new government has earmarked an extra €500m for spending on primary schools, on top of the €270m already agreed.

Campaigners are calling for €1.4bn in extra spending – €900m to boost teachers’ pay and €500m to reduce their workload. In total, some 7,000 schools are likely to be affected by the all-day strike.

Meanwhile, research published by Trouw on Thursday shows that many teachers who have left the profession are prepared to return, if salaries are improved and the workload is cut.

An estimated 31,000 people have a primary school teaching certificate (pabo) but have left the education system. But two thirds of 561 people in the survey said they would be certain, or likely, to return to teaching if working conditions and pay improved.