Also, 98.3% of Flemish lower secondary teachers had completed a teacher education bachelor’s programme, the 3th highest figure among the 34 TALIS participation countries (against a TALIS average of 89.8%) (OECD, 2014b). Teachers are hired into schools through an open recruitment procedure organised at the school board level and with considerable involvement of the school principal. Schools boards have autonomy in teacher recruitment, selection and appointment, and therefore act as the employers. However, schools need to observe regulations at the Flemish Community level regarding teacher required standard qualifications and the statutory rights of teaching staff.