Madeira Socialist Party demands hearing over teacher shortages

The Socialist Party (PS) has requested a parliamentary hearing in the Madeira Legislative Assembly with the Regional Secretary for Education, Science, and Technology, Elsa Fernandes. The request follows reports of significant disruptions at the start of the school year in the region.

According to PS leader Célia Pessegueiro, there is a critical shortage of substitute teachers and several schools and subjects still lack permanent staff, leaving students without instruction. Additionally, the party is seeking explanations regarding delays in the distribution of digital textbooks. While the project was intended to resolve previous delays associated with paper manuals, many students have yet to receive their computers or tablets despite classes having already commenced.

Pessegueiro criticized the Secretariat for shifting the burden of formatting and updating devices onto schools and teachers, a task that, combined with existing start-of-year bureaucracy, has delayed student access to necessary materials.