Minister Proposes Changes to Teacher Relocation Subsidy

The Minister of Education, Fernando Alexandre, has acknowledged the possibility of presenting a new proposal regarding the relocation subsidy for teachers. However, he reaffirmed that this support will only be available to teachers from certain schools and subjects.

Union Concerns

This decision has raised concerns among teacher unions, who argue that it undermines equity among educators. During a five-hour negotiation session with the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MECI), unions expressed that the proposed subsidy amounts (ranging from 75 to 200 euros) are inadequate. They have suggested that the subsidy should not be subject to IRS taxation.

After the meeting, Alexandre indicated that they would reconsider the support structure based on the discussions held. He mentioned, “We will rethink how the support is provided and possibly bring a new proposal in the next meeting next week.”

Attracting Teachers to High-Need Schools

This subsidy is part of the government's measures aimed at attracting more teachers to schools facing significant staff shortages. Another measure being negotiated involves an extraordinary recruitment contest for teachers, which will also be limited to specific groups and school clusters experiencing the greatest shortages, as confirmed by Manuel Teodósio, Vice-President of the National Education Federation (FNE).

Confidentiality of School Lists

Teodósio also mentioned that the FNE would provide proposals to refine these measures next week. While they recognize the positive intentions behind these initiatives, they stress the need for improvements to avoid unintended consequences. The FNE's primary goal is to ensure equity among teachers, which will not be achieved if only certain teachers receive the subsidy or access to the competition, as outlined by the MECI.

Furthermore, the list of schools eligible for these new measures will be completed shortly but will not be made public. Alexandre explained the need for caution in disclosing this information to avoid stigmatizing schools that struggle to maintain classes. He expressed confidence that unions and the media would understand this caution.

Lastly, the FNE remains puzzled about the government's decision to set a 70-kilometer minimum distance between a school and a teacher's residence to qualify for the relocation subsidy.