From September, graduated primary school teacher training (pabo) students in Almere are guaranteed a permanent job and priority for housing. With this scheme, the municipality aims to tackle the persistent teacher shortage in the city.
The initiative comes from the municipality of Almere, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Almere school boards, housing corporations, and a real estate agent. According to them, the scheme consists of a “coherent set of guarantees.”
After graduating, pabo students apply to one of the participating primary schools. As soon as they have a full-time job there, they get priority for suitable housing. If they later want to move to a home that better suits their life stage, they retain this priority position.
According to the municipality of Almere, the city has been struggling with a teacher shortage for some time. This is partly caused by the lack of affordable housing and the lack of job security.
The municipality hopes that the initiative will create “an attractive establishment climate for teachers.” “And at the same time, this contributes to a more stable housing market and a vital society.”