Most schools have staff without teacher training
Assigning timetables to teachers who lack formal training in teaching can be a “serious risk”, say some teachers, but headteachers still struggle to find anyone willing to fill the vacant slots.
Majority of schools rely on staff without teaching qualifications to give lessons
From the north to the south of the country, headteachers have once again had to deal with a shortage of teachers and the difficulty of finding people willing to take up vacancies.
Teacher and assistant shortages hit many schools
A survey by the civic movement Missão Escola Pública finds large gaps in staffing: about one third of schools reported teacher shortages during the first term, with problems spreading into the Centro and Norte regions and retirements flagged as a contributing factor. School leaders warn of repeated class disruptions and reliance on temporary cover, prompting calls for faster hiring and retention measures. Parents and those arranging schooling should confirm local staffing and contingency plans with individual schools.
An Missão Escola Pública (Public School Mission) is a grassroots civic movement in Portugal that has spent months surveying heads of school groupings ( agrupamentos de escolas ) and standalone schools to collect complaints and evidence about problems in the education system. Its months-long survey compiles school leaders' reports to inform public debate and policy discussions, so those working in schools or parents should be aware of its findings.
Education: Hundreds of mid‑school‑year retirements worsen teacher shortages
Hundreds of teachers have retired partway through the academic year, exacerbating an existing shortage. Schools are facing staffing gaps and difficulty finding replacements, disrupting lessons and increasing pressure on remaining staff.
