The Azores government concluded negotiations with unions over proposed changes to the regulations governing the competition for preschool and primary and secondary education teaching positions, set to be implemented in the 2026/2027 academic year.
António Lucas, president of the Sindicato dos Professores da Região Açores (SPRA), stated that the counterproposal from the authorities brought “a significant approximation” on one major point of disagreement: the potential creation of a “quasi-dynamic binding mechanism for teachers with three successive annual contracts.”
“In this regard, we achieved a significant approximation, as the scope shifted from a regional to an island level. This was the most significant point of convergence,” António Lucas admitted.
This change means “teachers may change schools annually without needing to move islands, which represents progress towards greater stability and settlement,” he noted.
Despite considering it a positive step, the union leader mentioned that divergence remains, particularly regarding the five-year competition modality associated with so-called government “incentives.”
The union believes these to be “merely travel allowances” and “an innocuous measure,” arguing that the ability to settle teachers on more peripheral islands “depends on genuine incentives for settlement, not just mere travel allowances.”
“In this aspect, we did not reach an agreement,” stated the union leader, emphasizing that the settlement of teachers “is a more sensitive point of convergence.”
“The imposition of teachers to spend at least five years on a more peripheral island with a 300-euro housing allowance is not attractive in the slightest,” António Lucas reinforced.
For António Fidalgo, president of the Sindicato Democrático dos Professores dos Açores (SDPA), there was “an effort of convergence” during negotiations ongoing since February, yet he believed essential issues require revision, notably “a lack of an ambitious strategy” for attracting and retaining teachers in the region.
“We still believe that this proposal, now that the negotiation is complete, does not yet ensure the stability of the teaching staff or promote attraction and retention of teachers in the region,” Fidalgo stated.
However, the SDPA president noted that some of the union’s proposals were “valued and accepted,” such as introducing “a priority in the external competition to integrate teachers with three consecutive years of contract into the framework.”
“Our proposal was not completely accepted, but there was an effort of convergence,” he explained, indicating that it was also possible to improve and better define the rules for internal assignment competitions.
António Fidalgo expressed hope that in the subsequent legislative phase, the document could be “improved.”
“There are some positive aspects, but indeed, more ambition is needed to value the profession, attract teachers from other areas of the country to the Azores, and retain the teachers we have in the region,” he emphasized.
Sofia Ribeiro, regional secretary of education from the PSD/CDS-PP/PPM coalition executive, met on Wednesday in Ponta Delgada with the Sindicato Democrático dos Professores dos Açores and the Sindicato dos Professores da Região Açores.
At the conclusion of the discussions, the official provided an “extremely positive” overview, acknowledging “an effort of convergence from both parties.”
