New Teaching Career Statute approved by the Council of Government - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Educação e dos Assuntos Culturais

The new teaching career statute for the Azores was approved by the Council of the Government. According to the Regional Secretary for Education and Cultural Affairs, Sofia Ribeiro, it ensures "equal treatment of teachers at different levels of education" and the recovery of the "length of service unaccounted in the transition between careers."

For the Secretary of Education, the new proposal "proved to be essential," taking into consideration "the protests of teachers nationwide."

It should be noted that teachers in Mainland Portugal have been on successive strikes for almost two months, demanding better conditions for teaching careers in Mainland Portugal. 

"According to the Regional Government, this legal document clearly demonstrates the recovery of better working conditions for teachers in the Azores," stressed Sofia Ribeiro.

As the government official noted, the new proposal for Regional Statute is "a mechanism" that contributes to "maintaining social peace, a key element to the defence of Public Schools and the Regional Education System."

"We have created more advantageous conditions for continuing training but also for initial training, as a necessary requirement for the teaching profession, namely paid teaching internships and the support provided by experienced teachers to first-year teachers," said Sofia Ribeiro.

The document also safeguards "the rules on absences, holidays, leaves and days off" applicable to public administration workers, as, according to Sofia Ribeiro, "the statute currently in force stipulates more disadvantageous conditions for teachers in the Azores."

Sofia Ribeiro stressed that the document was negotiated with the unions representing the teaching staff, "who acknowledged that a revision was essential."

The new teaching career statute was a commitment of the XIII Government of the Azores, as set out in its Programme.