eachers with only a master's degree: Minister of Education of Portugal updates qualification in the

Teachers with only a master's degree: Minister of Education of Portugal updates qualification in the country

In an interview with a Portuguese radio station, the Minister of Education João Costa states that it is only with a master's degree in teaching that teachers can enter the teaching career. The aging of the teaching staff and the lack of teachers in schools are one of the biggest problems in the area of education that lead researchers and policymakers to meet and discuss this problem. Meeting with teachers' unions allowed adjustments in the order for reviewing teaching qualifications. 

Currently, most teachers in primary and secondary education are at least 50 years old and it is estimated that by 2030, half of the teachers will be able to retire. The aging of the teaching class and teacher reforms are added to the low demand for master's degrees that give access to a teaching career. 

“The qualification for access to the profession, that is, for a teacher to be able to enter the teaching career, is and will continue to be the master's degree”, said the Minister. The politician wants to put an end to controversy regarding the minimum requirements for teaching. 

These new measures have been targeted by the unions, however, João Costa insisted that he is carrying out “a mere updating of what already existed”, which, in some situations, “as in the 2nd cycle, until requires more credits than master's degrees in teaching": these changes "do not imply any reduction in the bar in terms of professional qualifications for teaching". to the sick profession. That's what other countries have done, but we're not going to do it”, he stressed.

The order will be updated to establish the criteria for a post-Bologna graduate to teach on an “own license” basis, with direct contracting by the school, outside the national competition. In this case, where teachers are hired, to replace schools, there were only regulations for pre-Bologna graduates. Therefore,  “we are going to update the dispatch of qualifications for teaching so that post-Bologna graduates can also be hired”, clarified the minister. The idea is to reduce the shortage of teachers in the regions of Lisbon and Vale do Tejo and Algarve; and in the area of Information Technology, which is the most worrying, according to Minister João Costa. 

Teachers with their own qualifications only hold a degree and can only be hired, under the terms of the legislation in force, in “exceptional situations”. More specifically when there are no candidates available with professional qualifications, which is currently a “condition for the exercise of the teaching function” and which is awarded through the Masters in Teaching.

On the regime for the recruitment and placement of teachers, according to the government official, there will be negotiations with the unions starting next month to review the rules, he also says.

Link: https://observador.pt/2022/08/17/ministro-da-educacao-na-radio-observador-licenciados-pos-bolonha-podem-dar-aulas-com-habilitacao-propria-em-regime-excecional/