The government is spending €700m on improving teachers’ pay, training and promotional opportunities, junior education minister Halbe Zijlstra told MPs in a briefing on Monday.

That is enough to put 55,000 teachers on a higher salary scale, Zijlstra said.
Last year, 93% of primary school teachers were in the bottom pay scale. This should have gone down to 58% by 2014, under targets agreed between the government and trade unions.
According to the Telegraaf, a primary school teacher earns between €2,300 and €3,600 a month.
Secondary school
Some 56% of secondary school teachers are currently in the bottom pay scale. This should be reduced to 33% by 2014. Secondary school teachers can earn up to €5,000 a month, depending on age and experience, the Telegraaf says.
The minister also said that since 2008, 19,000 teachers have taken advantage of a special grant to take a master’s degree.