Portugal school vacancy shortage drives Ministry of Education complaints

The start of the school year in Portugal is facing significant opposition from families due to a shortage of school placements. According to an analysis by Portal da Queixa covering the period from August 1 to September 23, 46% of all complaints directed at the Ministry of Education are related to the lack of school vacancies.

Data shows a 15% increase in complaints compared to the same period in 2025. Out of 54 total complaints recorded during the preparation and start of classes, 25 involve students who have not been assigned any school placement at all. The issue most severely affects children in transition ages and early schooling, with 52% of vacancy-related complaints involving pre-school and first-cycle students aged 3 to 10.

Many guardians report that despite submitting applications within official deadlines and selecting multiple preferred schools, their children remain on waiting lists or without definitive responses even after classes have commenced. The majority of those filing complaints are women, who account for 88% of the reports regarding the lack of vacancies.