Bachelor's graduates without a teaching master's will be able to teach years 1–4 where schools are short of teachers
On 5 November the Council of Ministers approved a decree-law allowing schools that are short of teachers to hire graduates with a bachelor's degree in primary education (licenciatura em Educação Básica) to teach years 1–4 (1.º ciclo), even if they have not yet completed teacher training (Notícias ao Minuto). Normally, teaching primary classes also requires a master's in teaching after the bachelor's degree.
These teachers will complete their training later, either on the same master's or on the job (profissionalização em serviço). The government calls the measure exceptional: the usual route into the profession remains the main one, and the aim is to make sure no class is left without a teacher.
Until now, English was the only subject that could be taught in primary school without teacher training. According to the education minister, Fernando Alexandre, 265 teaching posts in the country's schools are still unfilled, 83 of them in years 1–4.
For parents, this means that a class that still has no teacher of its own may get one, but it may be someone without a teaching qualification. The teachers' union Fenprof opposes children being taught by people without teacher training and may demand further negotiations with the ministry (Observador).
