248 Teachers Set to Return to Schools as Portugal Cuts Statutory Mobility by 25%

Overview

248 teachers will return to schools this academic year as the Ministry of Education reduces the number of teachers in statutory mobility—those working outside their assigned schools—to address the shortage of teachers in areas where students have been without classes for extended periods.

Special Mobility

Each year, special mobility is authorized for teachers to engage in transitional roles, such as working in European schools or in extracurricular education. This year, 2047 career teachers were assigned to 667 entities compared to 2295 teachers last year, marking an 11% decrease.

Significant Reductions

The reduction is even more pronounced in fields and schools facing significant teacher shortages. The ministry aims for a 25% reduction in assigned mobility in deficit recruitment groups, which is part of the ambitious +Classes +Success plan, launched in June, aiming to cut the number of students without classes by 90% in the first term compared to last year.

Impacted Regions

This reduction will significantly affect areas like Greater Lisbon, Setúbal Peninsula, Algarve, and Alentejo, where teacher shortages are most acute. Last year, 324 teachers were working outside their schools, but this year, only 241 statutory mobilities were approved in deficit areas, allowing 83 teachers to return to schools in need.

Importance of Classroom Presence

The Ministry of Education stresses that while the roles these teachers will perform are valuable, the priority is ensuring that students have teachers present in their schools. The ministry has successfully reduced the number of teachers in statutory mobility by 25.62% in identified deficit groups for the 2024/25 academic year.