A “significant decline” over the past eight years in the number of students receiving teacher certification from state universities might be so severe that it could create a teacher shortage in the state within the coming three years, a new study said. Kansas University had toughened its teacher training course from four to five years and some feared it posed serious dangers. Dale Scannell, KU education dean, said risks were weighed in setting the five-year curriculum and it was decided the advantages were too numerous to be denied.