While schools should always give priority to individuals with “required” or "acceptable" qualifications, they may exceptionally (e.g. in a situation of teacher shortage) appoint an individual with “other” qualifications (Eurydice, 2015). While teachers are employed by the school boards, they are paid by the Flemish Government and their employment conditions, including pensions, are defined within the public service framework (Flemish Ministry of Education and Training, 2015). There are three stages in the contractual status of teachers: i) temporary appointment of definite duration, ii) temporary appointment of continuous duration (i.e. automatically renewed if the respective school is funded the associated teaching hours), and iii) permanent employment.