Almost 8,000 primary school children will be without a teacher in September if 300 vacancies are not filled, according to figures from the Breed Bestuurlijk Overleg Amsterdam schools association.

The AD reports on Wednesday that the lack of teachers, particularly in the capital, is currently ‘immense’.

‘It is difficult to predict what will happen as the situation does change quickly,’ Grada Huis, BBO spokesperson, told the newspaper. ‘[Filling places] will have to happen before the summer holidays because by the time they start, everyone has found a position. This is why school headteachers are looking for people day and night at the moment.’

Earlier this month teaching unions and school managers agreed a new deal for primary school teachers including a one-off payment of 42% of monthly salary, 2.5% pay rise and maximum €750 bonus.

There have been nationwide strikes and governmental lobbying since last October over primary school pay and pressure, caused partly by a shortage of teachers.