Portuguese Schools Face Severe Teacher Shortage by 2031

The news in Portuguese

Translation

Schools in Portugal will experience a shortage of teachers until 2031. This issue is caused by retirements and the small number of new teachers entering the profession. All subjects, except Physical Education, will be affected. There is a need for more programmes to train teachers and enhance working conditions. Some areas, like Lisbon, are already facing difficulties.

Exercise: Text comprehension

Question 1: What are the main reasons for the teacher shortage in Portuguese schools?

The main reasons are retirements and a low number of new teachers entering the profession.

Question 2: Which subject is not expected to be affected by the teacher shortage?

Physical Education is not expected to be affected by the teacher shortage.

Exercise: Vocabulary

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▌29/10/2024

Portuguese schools are projected to face a severe shortage of teachers across nearly all subjects by the year 2031, as revealed by a recent study conducted by the Education Department of the Fundação Belmiro de Azevedo. The ongoing increase in teacher retirements, alongside insufficient numbers of new graduates entering the profession, are core reasons behind this looming issue.

According to the study titled "Reservas de Professores sob a Lupa: Antevisão de Professores Necessários e Disponíveis", led by researchers including Isabel Flores, the situation is set to become a critical structural problem, exacerbating the current challenges faced by educational institutions. Presently, issues arise primarily when replacing absent teachers; however, by 2031, it is anticipated that the shortage will necessitate around 8,700 teachers to fill permanent positions, with a further 15,700 absent teachers needing temporary replacements.

The study, which was made available to Portuguese news agency Lusa, highlights that if the educational landscape remains unchanged, schools from the 7th to 12th grades will be particularly affected, except for Physical Education. The shortage is expected to intensify within two years for certain disciplines, especially in Economics, Geography, Informatics, Mathematics, Biology, and Chemistry.

Current data reveals that while preschool and the initial cycles experience less strain, the ongoing issues begin to significantly affect subjects from the 7th grade onwards. Regional disparities are also evident, with areas like the Algarve and Lisbon metropolitan region already struggling more than others to meet teaching demands.

Portuguese Schools Face Severe Teacher Shortage by 2031 (Illustration)

Recommendations put forth by Edulog include increasing the number of spots in teacher training programs, with a focus on more critical subjects, and providing financial incentives and improved working conditions to attract and retain teachers. However, these measures may take several years to show substantial effects, according to the study.

The findings, however, do not take into account measures by the current government, such as the "Mais Aulas, Mais Sucesso" plan, intended to temporarily reduce classroom shortages. Former Education Minister David Justino pointed out that while such efforts may have immediate benefits, they do not address the underlying structural issues.

Comparative analyses with other countries such as Lithuania, Germany, and the UK reveal that teacher shortages are a common struggle internationally, though successful redistribution efforts have been noted where relocation costs for teachers are subsidized.

As these findings come to light, the emphasis on developing a national strategy for teacher recruitment is increasingly seen as necessary to mitigate the issue effectively.

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