More students are starting out at teacher training college and at specialist nursing schools – both areas where the Netherlands has a serious shortage of qualified staff.

Experts say there could be a shortfall of as many as 10,000 teachers by 2025.

In the current academic year, 452 students have started at primary teacher training college (pabo), a rise of 9.5% on 2018/19, according to figures from the Dutch hbo college association.

‘We have to realise that these students will only be working as teachers in four or five years time, so we are not solving the problems facing schools and parents today,’ association chairman Maurice Lippen said.

‘That is why it is important that hbo colleges do more to encourage flexible part-time teaching and introduce more options for career switchers.’

In addition, 8% more students started a course to become a nurse last year, another sector where there is a severe shortage of qualified staff.

According to state jobs agency UWV, youngsters are looking carefully at where the best job opportunities are and this is one reason for the increase in popularity of both teaching and nursing, the Telegraaf reported.