The education system is facing challenges due to a rising number of teacher retirements, with 250 fewer educators in schools as of March. This issue, previously confined to the southern regions, is now affecting the north as well. Concerns have been raised by Arlindo Ferreira, a school director, about students lacking essential teachers, such as a Portuguese teacher for a month. The FENPROF union has highlighted the growing need for hiring teachers, indicating a structural problem in the education sector. The exact number of students without classes this year remains unclear as the Ministry of Education is changing its counting methods.