According to a statement released at the end of the Council of Ministers meeting, the Portuguese Government approved a Decree-Law that "restores equity, expanding support to all primary and secondary school teachers who, from the next school year, teach in public school systems".
The note from the Portuguese executive says that, "currently, the support provided for teachers in statutory mobility is not applied to staff teachers and contracted teachers".
"All teachers placed in EPE in the next academic year will receive support for installation and return, round-trip travel to the country where they are placed, at the beginning and end of their duties, for the teacher and their family, annual travel for the teacher and their family, health insurance for the teacher and their family, support for the cost of residence, which will take into account the country where the teachers are placed", he continues.
When questioned by Lusa, the Portuguese Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation indicated that the measure aims to "guarantee equity between primary and secondary school teachers who teach in public school systems", since "currently there are very different situations between teachers from the same school and between teachers from different schools, since the support provided for teachers in statutory mobility is not applied to teachers on staff and contracted teachers".
The changes, which come into effect next school year, were subject to union negotiation, following which the government revised its proposal.
Teachers who in the current school year (2024/2025) were placed in an EPE and who remain in their positions at the respective school in the next school year will receive compensation equivalent to six months of support for the cost of living, upon verification of changes in the cost of living.
The Portuguese Government has approved a set of support and supplements for these teachers, such as support for installation and return, equivalent to twice the value of the supplement to support the cost of residence, paid with the first and last salary, health insurance for the teacher and their family, a retention bonus after four years of continuous service, paid once, in the month following the completion of four years, equivalent to the value of the base salary.
The descendants of these teachers are now exempt from registration, monthly fees and other expenses related to school attendance.
A round trip to the country where the duties are carried out, at the beginning and end of duties, for the teacher and for the members of his/her household, which may be carried out on different dates, and a round trip to Portugal and back to the country where the duties are carried out, for each calendar year of duties at the school that does not coincide with the year of the beginning or end of duties, for the teacher and for the members of his/her household, on dates that may be different, were also contemplated.
Regarding support for the cost of residence, paid for 12 months, this varies according to "the cost of living, the level of risk and unhealthiness", being in Angola, Brazil and Mozambique 2700 euros (director), 2200 euros (deputy director) and 1850 euros (teaching staff).
In Cape Verde and East Timor the values defined are 2200 euros (director), 1800 euros (deputy director) and 1500 euros (teaching staff).
In São Tomé, the director will receive 2200 euros and the deputy director 1800 euros, while teaching staff will receive 1350 euros.
For teachers placed in the current academic year, compensation will be 11,100 euros (Angola, Brazil and Mozambique), 9000 euros (Cape Verde and Timor) and 8100 euros (São Tomé).
The Portuguese government has defined that, to "ensure commitment, continuity and return on public investment, teachers will have to work for two consecutive years at the school where they are placed".
"Teachers who do not comply with this obligation will have to return to the school the amounts paid, up to that date, for support for installation at the workplace, except for reasons of force majeure or a fact not attributable to the teacher. They will also lose the right to payment of support for the return trip to Portugal, for themselves and members of their household", said the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation.
The Decree-Law approved this Wednesday also determines that teachers placed in an EPE with a link to a school group, non-grouped school or pedagogical zone framework, maintain their place of origin for a period of four years.
