Multiple outlets report the Ministry of Education (Ministério da Educação) paid €25.9 million for overtime hours in December, with more than 30,000 teachers working extra hours to cover teacher shortages; one outlet also notes about 1,500 teachers deferred retirement this school year. The payments reflect ongoing staffing gaps that affect class coverage and school timetables; expat parents should expect occasional substitute teachers or timetable changes and keep in touch with school administrations. The story uses the Portuguese term for overtime, horas extraordinárias, which many schools and payslips will also use.

Update: Recent reports from national broadcasters and outlets corroborate the December payment figure and the scale of extra hours — confirming persistent staffing pressures in classrooms across regions. For expat families: continue to monitor communications from your child's school about cover arrangements and possible timetable adjustments.