The number of students applying for a place at a teacher training college (pabo) is down almost 11% on last year, the hbo college council said on Wednesday.

By the end of May, fewer than 9,000 would-be teachers had signed up, compared with over 10,000 last year.
A spokesman for the council said the drop was unsurprising because entrance standards had been increased and government cuts have reduced career opportunities in the education sector.