Portugal school closures hit 1,370 sites during non-teaching staff strike

A 24-hour national strike by non-teaching staff has led to the closure of approximately 1,370 public schools across Portugal, representing about 25% of the country's educational establishments. The strike, organized by the National Union of Education Professionals (Sinape), involves operational assistants, technical assistants, and specialized technicians.

According to Sinape official Francisco Pinto, the strike saw an estimated 80% participation rate. Significant disruptions were reported in the districts of Lisbon, Setúbal, Coimbra, Leiria, and Faro, with closures also noted in Viseu, Aveiro, and Matosinhos. While some schools managed to operate partially or remain open, many secondary and basic schools were forced to suspend classes.

The workers are demanding the creation of specific career paths to address what the union describes as a state of continuous precariousness, lack of professional progression, and insufficient functional recognition within the public administration.