Portugal Faces Critical Teacher Shortage: 21,000 New Educators Needed by 2034

Alarming Teacher Shortage Projected for Portugal

A recent study reveals that Portugal will need to recruit 21,000 new teachers specifically for the 3rd cycle and secondary education by 2034. This demand comes despite an expected 5% decrease in student numbers over the same period.

Key Findings from the Diagnosis Study

The Study of Diagnosis of Teacher Needs from 2025 to 2034, presented this Tuesday, provides detailed insights:

• Overall, 38,000 new teachers are required by 2034/2035.
• Annually, about 4,000 teachers are projected to retire in the coming years.
• Specific subject needs include:
  • 3,639 teachers for Portuguese
  • 2,322 teachers for Mathematics
  • 1,866 teachers for Physics and Chemistry

This situation highlights that current teacher training programs are insufficient to meet future demands, raising concerns about the quality of education in Portugal.