What changed
2026-09-10 18:36 UTC → 2026-09-12 07:29 UTC ·
added
removed
In late August 2026, Portugal confirmed the hiring of 216 teachers across 62 educational establishments to prepare for the new academic year. At that time, 92 permanent staff members remained awaiting placement, with final adjustments expected after September 1. By early September, new regulations were implemented for the 2026/2027 academic year. Under Decree-Law 175/2026, teacher salary processing became linked to the mandatory registration of lesson summaries. To combat shortages, the government introduced measures allowing schools to hire retired teachers and specific graduates, alongside a 750-euro monthly bonus for teachers in high-need areas who delay retirement. On September 7, Minister of Education Fernando Alexandre reported that over 2,000 teaching hours remain unfilled, with shortages particularly acute in the Algarve, Lisbon, and Setúbal regions. While the minister expressed confidence that available staff could cover these needs, the National Federation of Education (FNE) has demanded clarity regarding the exact number of missing teachers. Concurrently, the teachers' union Fenprof has denounced failures in the recruitment process, claiming that “technical errors in the digital platform” have prevented school directors from validating schedules. On September 9, Following the Council approval of Ministers approved a new continuous recruitment model allowing on September 9, schools in Portugal are set to hire begin hiring educators on a daily basis starting September 18. This process aims measure is intended to accelerate replacements for staff absences due to illness or retirement. Additionally, Disputes persist regarding the impact of recent government announced pilot projects for actions on staffing levels. During the 2027/2028 national school year opening ceremony in Setúbal, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro claimed that fewer students are without teachers this year, noting that approximately 9,200 teachers have joined the permanent teaching career, including 3,000 placed in high-pressure areas. He attributed these improvements to merge enhanced training, salary incentives, and housing support. However, the union Fenprof has disputed these figures. Secretary-general José Feliciano Costa argued that while roughly 7,000 teachers joined the career over the last two years, most were already active within the education system, suggesting no net increase in staffing. Costa cited specific local shortages, such as the Queluz-Belas school grouping, where 19 out of more than 40 first-cycle classes reportedly remain without a teacher. Additionally, the government’s plan to pilot the merger of the first and second cycles of basic education. education for the 2027/2028 school year remains a point of contention. While the National Association of School Directors (ANDAEP) and the National Teachers Association see potential in the merger for better staff distribution, they have requested clarification on operational implementation. Conversely, unions Fenprof and FNE have rejected maintain that the move, arguing it merger may “mask the ongoing teacher shortage.”