Half of Dutch primary school and special needs schools head teachers think using temporary employment agencies to fill vacancies should be banned for being too expensive, according to a survey by the General Association of School Leaders (AVS) in collaboration with Dutch newspaper Volkskrant.

A total of 586 directors completed the survey. Apart from a few, they all work in primary and special education, the sectors that are most affected by teaching shortages. Due to the increasing teacher shortage, schools are more often forced to hire temp employment agencies.

They are often criticised as many school leaders are concerned by the fact that some agencies are attracting teachers with extras that they cannot offer themselves, such as  higher entry-level salaries. Temporary agency workers are not only used to replace sick teachers, but also regular vacancies are being filled in this way more often. Despite the criticism, one in three directors hired an employment agency or head hunter in the past year, the survey data showed.

It is not known how much money goes to temporary employment agencies and secondment agencies each year. From amounts that large school boards mentioned earlier, the survey concluded that it is in the millions of euros.

Petra van Haren, chairman of the AVS, commented, “The use of temporary employment agencies is not a structural solution for the teacher shortage. A temporary worker costs 30 to 50% more, so there is less and less money left for permanent teachers.”

However van Haren added that a ban is not necessary because a school director always has a choice of whether or not they will use a temporary employment agency.

In August, eight Amsterdam school boards - including 125 public primary schools - decided to stop filling vacancies for teachers through employment agencies due to ‘absurdly high hourly rates', while the teachers themselves earn only 'a fraction' more than teachers employed by a school.