In a statement released today, the movement mentions that it was with “surprise and concern” that they watched the press conference after the Council of Ministers on Thursday, given that the decree supporting the guidelines for organizing the next school year was not approved, some of which require supporting legislation.
“We appeal for steps to be taken next week so that the decree can be approved and published in the Official Gazette as soon as possible. We remind you that thousands of teachers report to schools on September 2, and at that time, it is essential for them to be aware of their service distribution to begin the process of planning and preparing classes and activities that start on September 12,” the statement says.
According to the movement, the Minister of the Presidency “hinted” that the next CM meeting will only take place in two weeks, recalling that the Government has been in office for four months and that for the measures already implemented to begin to take effect “on the serious problems facing the country, including in Public Schools, it is essential that the Government makes these measures effective and that they are applied in practice.”
“This cannot be a time of rest for those committed to overcoming problems and seeking effective answers,” the note continues, recalling that schools are currently “working on service distribution, timetable preparation, among other tasks awaiting legislation on guidelines.”
The movement also mentions that the placement lists for Internal Mobility and Hiring competitions should be released next week, so they consider it “indispensable, to ensure that more teachers do not abandon the profession due to placement outside their area of residence, to announce cost-of-living allowances for displaced teachers.”
“Dr. Fernando Alexandre has already mentioned that, depending on the scenario during the first term, cost-of-living allowances may take place in 2025. We, who are on the ground, are certain that the lack of teachers in the deprived areas already identified in the previous school year will persist and even worsen, so cost-of-living allowances only in 2025 will prove to be an irrelevant and late measure, especially because teachers and potential candidates for school offer schedules will already have their lives organized by that date,” they warn.
In the note, the movement also draws attention to the fact that “the number of teacher retirements taking place in September (458) reveals that the intentions of teachers of retirement age do not meet the expectations of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation as the number of retirements tends to increase instead of decrease, which would guarantee active permanence.”
“It is urgent that the decree supporting the guidelines be issued so that teachers and schools can do professional, competent, and timely work, as well as define measures that reinforce the presented plan,” they reiterate.
The Public School Mission movement states that the document was sent to the offices of the Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, and the Minister of the Presidency Amaro Leitão.
