Teachers in Underprivileged Areas to Get Increased Relocation Support - Up to 50 Euros More!

Teachers assigned to schools in underprivileged areas with a shortage of educators will now receive enhanced relocation support, ranging from an additional 15 to 50 euros, depending on the distance from their fiscal residence.

The Government's proposal was presented today to teacher unions during a meeting at the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation (MECI) in Caparide, Cascais. This introduction of increased support marks a significant update to the existing policy.

Last week, Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced the extension of this support to all teachers placed in schools more than 70 kilometers from their fiscal residence, effective from the start of the academic year.

This measure accelerates the implementation of a compensation regime approved in March by the Assembly of the Republic, despite opposition from PSD and CDS-PP. The original regime, established by the Government last September, was limited to teachers in schools deemed underprivileged due to a lack of educators.

However, the extension of support was initially set to take effect with the State Budget for 2026, starting in January.

According to MECI, in the last academic year, 2,807 teachers placed in 234 underprivileged schools benefited from relocation support.

Starting in September, the ministry estimates that more than eight thousand teachers will benefit, representing an investment of approximately 25 million euros, as stated in a communiqué from Minister Fernando Alexandre's office.

For most beneficiary teachers, the amounts remain unchanged: 150 euros for those between 70 and 200 kilometers from home, 300 euros for distances between 200 and 300 kilometers, and 450 euros for those teaching more than 300 kilometers from their residence.

However, diverging from the parliamentary-approved decree in March, the Government now introduces an increase for teachers in schools located in geographic areas with a pedagogical staff deficit.

In these cases, teachers will receive an additional 15 to 50 euros: 165 euros monthly for less than 200 kilometers, 335 euros for 200 to 300 kilometers, and 500 euros for distances exceeding 300 kilometers.

The MECI emphasizes that this adjustment maintains the "coherence of this public policy, unlike the parliamentary approval, which did not foresee any additional incentive for areas with the greatest teacher shortages."

During the ongoing meeting between the ministry and union organizations, Fernando Alexandre also plans to present other temporary measures for the 2025/2026 academic year to address the teacher shortage.

Teacher representatives have until Friday to submit their contributions on this matter.