“The representation of the Ministry of Education in the Commissions for the Protection of Children and Young People (CPCJ) is not in question and has never been questioned,” assured Ana Isabel Valente in statements.
The president of the CNPDPCJ met today with representatives of various CPCJs regarding the new guidelines from the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation for the allocation of teachers to the commissions.
Every year, the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MECI) authorizes the temporary mobility of teachers through secondment for teaching functions in other public schools or requisition for technical or technical-pedagogical roles outside the educational system.
In addition to municipalities, cultural associations, foundations, or public administration institutions, CPCJs also receive teachers who assume roles as representatives or technical support. However, in the next school year, these roles will be assigned by directors.
In line with the new rules for statutory mobility, which will require the return to schools of teachers in subjects and areas with greater demand, directors will need to assign teachers dispensed from teaching duties to CPCJs.
The guidance from the Directorate-General of School Administration (DGAE), sent to schools in the summer, has caused controversy and concern among the commissions, who warn of the difficulty in replacing teachers in some situations where the schools in the area of influence cannot release teachers, and the potential reduction in resources.
Confirming the challenges reported by some representatives during the meeting, the president of the CNPDPCJ insisted that all situations will be resolved in coordination with the MECI services.
“What we really want is to resolve situations to maintain stability in the CPCJs and the processes, and even improve the protection of the rights of children and young people,” said Ana Isabel Valente.
Last year, the Ministry of Education was represented in 305 of the 313 commissions. Ana Isabel Valente cannot specify how many will return to schools but notes that many have been reappointed and will not need to be replaced.
In response, the MECI also does not specify how many will leave the commissions but ensures that “the Directorate-General of School Establishments (DGEstE) is monitoring the situation and collaborating in the solution for each CPCJ.”
“The response given was always to clarify that the schools will indicate the teachers from the area of influence of each CPCJ, as they should be teachers who teach in the respective area of influence and who know the territory, ensuring continuous support,” states the office of Minister Fernando Alexandre.
On the other hand, the president of the CNPDPCJ notes that the law on the protection of children and young people in danger does not require that Education representatives be teachers, and the protocol signed in 2024 provides that “preferably, they should be teachers.”
“I don’t know if there is an added value in being a teacher,” recognized the president of the National Commission, arguing that what is most important is that these technicians, who deal with cases of children in danger, have the motivation and appropriate profile.
