Portugal's education minister has said that 1,250 full teaching timetables were still unfilled as the new school year got under way, RTP reported on Friday. The figure was disclosed as schools reopened, with the minister acknowledging the remaining gaps in staffing.
The shortage of teachers has again shaped the start of the school year in Portugal, according to Euronews. The minister pointed to a new teacher recruitment competition as a way to address the problem, saying it would "drastically reduce" the number of students left without classes, Público reported.
The staffing shortfall comes as Portugal also sets its sights on international benchmarks. The Observador reported that the goal is to place above the OECD average in the next PISA round.
The opening of the school year has drawn attention beyond the classroom as well. RTP reported separately that the medical association is calling for incentives to attract doctors to low-density areas, a reminder that staffing gaps in public services extend across sectors.
What to watch next: whether the new recruitment competition closes the remaining 1,250 unfilled timetables, and how quickly students without assigned teachers are placed in classes.