Government plans to spend 88 million to attract and maintain teachers

O Government plans to spend EUR 88 million next year on measures to combat the lack of teachers in schools, supporting those who stay away from home or agree to postpone retirement to continue teaching.

“ In 2027, the measures to respond to the shortage of teachers through the Plan +Aulas +Success represent an estimated investment of EUR 88 million”, reads in the explanatory note, published today on the page of the Assembly of the Republic, of the proposal of the State Budget Government for 2027, for Education, Science and Innovation.

The program began to be implemented in schools in the school year 2024/2025 with new measures to support travel, incentives to extend the teaching career, flexibility extraordinary teaching service and extraordinary external binding competitions.

Last school year, the measures “contributed to the entry of 5,535 new teachers into public school, including 1,008 teachers who returned to the system after at least one year of absence”, says the MECI note.

In addition, 2,232 teachers agreed to extend their career and 7,122 received travel support.

This year, the guardianship decided to adjust the plan, which is more focused on the areas where there are more lack of teachers: That's eight Zone Charts. Deprived pedagogic, covering 235 organic units of Greater Lisbon, Setúbal Peninsula and Algarve.

The amount of 88 million is contained in the proposal of the (OE2027) which will be debated in Parliament today as part of the assessment in the field of education, science and innovation.

The tutelage also underlines that there is a review of the Teaching Career Statute, which will make the profession more attractive, and that a partnership is already under way with several higher education institutions aimed at those already in schools teaching, but not yet fully trained.

The amount for education is around EUR 7,788 million, with staff expenditure amounting to EUR 6,515.8 million, representing 94.7% of the budget, and being the main component of financing school activities.

In more than 5,000 schools, from preschool to secondary school, some 127 thousand teachers and 50,000 non-teachers work.

In addition to personnel expenditure, EUR 306.9 million is earmarked for the purchase of goods and services, EUR 40.1 million for current transfers and EUR 9.4 million for investment.

“ These appropriations provide the means of operation and support necessary for the development of the educational activity,” says the MECI Explanatory Note.

Schools from preschool to secondary education currently have more than 1.4 million students: 79% attend public establishments and the remaining 21% private establishments.