Portugal is facing a severe shortage of teachers at the start of the academic year, with over 800 teachers missing from schools according to the National Teachers’ Federation (Fenprof). This shortage has left around 200,000 pupils without a teacher for at least one subject, a situation that has been worsening over the years. The lack of educators in Portuguese schools can be attributed to low salaries, heavy workloads, and placements far from home, leading many qualified teachers to leave the profession. As a result, there is a significant lack of young teachers entering the system, with half of all teachers in mainland Portugal being over 50 years old.
The National Teachers’ Federation has expressed concerns about the future of education in Portugal, as projections show that by 2030, around 50,000 teachers are expected to leave the education system without enough graduates to replace them. The government’s plan to address the teacher shortage includes extending the retirement age for teachers, encouraging retired teachers to return to the profession, and attracting new graduates through master’s or doctoral programs. However, Fenprof believes that these measures may not be sufficient to address the magnitude of the shortage.
Minister of Education Fernando Alexandre has acknowledged the devaluation of the teaching profession in Portugal and has promised a revision of the Teaching Career Statute to address the issues faced by educators. Negotiations with teaching unions are set to begin on October 21st, with the process expected to be completed within a year. The shortage of teachers is not unique to Portugal, as 23 EU member states are also struggling with a lack of teaching staff, impacting students’ learning outcomes and the quality of education provided.
The European Commission’s “Education and Training Monitor 2023” report highlights Sweden, Germany, and Italy as the countries most affected by the shortage of teaching staff. In Portugal, the challenges faced by teachers, including long working hours and large class sizes, have led to a significant number of educators leaving the profession. This has resulted in a scarcity of young teachers entering the system, creating a gap that is expected to widen in the coming years.
The government’s efforts to retain teachers through measures such as extending the retirement age and incentivizing retired teachers to return may not be sufficient to address the teacher shortage in Portugal. With negotiations set to begin with teaching unions, there is hope that a collaborative effort can be made to find sustainable solutions to ensure a steady supply of educators in the future. However, the challenges faced by the education system in Portugal are reflective of a wider issue across the EU, highlighting the need for effective strategies to attract and retain qualified teaching staff.
