Rising school costs and teacher shortages in Portugal

Portuguese families continue to face significant financial pressure during the back-to-school season. Data indicates that household expenses in September can rise by an average of 15%, reaching up to 18% for families with children. An IPAM study shows that 83% of Portuguese families perceive higher costs compared to the previous year. While the average estimated expenditure is 179 euros per child, 9% of families anticipate costs exceeding 400 euros per child.

To manage these budgets, consumers are adopting various cost-saving strategies: 86% frequently compare prices, and 97% reuse some school materials. To mitigate financial strain, the Social Security office provides a doubled family allowance in September for eligible low-income families in the first income bracket with children aged 6 to 16 enrolled in school.

Beyond financial concerns, the education system is facing operational challenges. The Missão Escola Pública (MEP) reports that approximately 163,000 students are starting the school year without all required teachers, with shortages most prevalent in core subjects such as Portuguese, English, and Mathematics. These shortages are notably affecting the 1st cycle and are most widespread in the Lisbon, Alentejo, and Algarve regions. Furthermore, reports indicate that over 2,000 teachers have taken medical leave at the start of the term.

Academic performance has also shown volatility. Following digital classification errors in national exams, 75.2% of students who requested grade re-evaluations in the second phase saw an increase in their scores. Additionally, grades in the extraordinary exam period showed a decline in several subjects compared to the first phase. Specifically, nine subjects, including Portuguese, Biology, and Mathematics, saw average scores drop from positive to negative values.