The Algarve Intermunicipal Council, comprised of the 16 mayors of the Algarve’s municipalities, have decided publicly to voice their outrage and concern about the situation in the region’s schools.
The mayors are appalled at the way the government has mismanaged the placement of teachers at the beginning of the school year.
"Hampering the start of classes, students' learning, the lives of teachers and above all a serious disturbance that this causes to the stability of families who have children in lessons with no teachers a month after the beginning of term," were some of the comments from Jorge Botelho, Mayor of Tavira and chairman of the Algarve Intermunicipal Council.
"Local councils took care that the school year was started on time and help with school materials, playgrounds, school meals, transport for students, educational materials and a whole host of areas showing the strong municipal involvement in the start of school," said Botelho.
According to data provided by the municipal councils, more than three hundred teaching posts remained unfilled at the Algarve schools at the end of the first week of October, a situationthat has not significantly eased as time goes on and which "denies thousands of students access to the education to which they are entitled."
"This is the fault of the Government, which calls into question our municipal investment and the whole educational process for the students," said Jorge Botelho.
"The beginning of the school year was the most chaotic and disorganised in recent years. The way the government manages the education sector, which is a priority in building a better future for our youth and for our country, has caused the deep indignation of the Algarve's mayors," continued Botelho.
The Algarve Intermunicipal Council considers that the Government "should review its performance" and "reflect on its mistakes in order quickly to find solutions that prevent this happening again and so be able to define a path to prosperity and be seen to care about the future citizens of Portugal."
This year’s mishandling of the teacher allocation already has seen the dismissal of Mário Agostinho Alves Pereira, Director General of School Administration.
The Education Minister’s time is running out also, the Prime Minister mentioned that Nuno Crato will be returning to academia, "but not just yet."
Passos Coelho would do well to time his sackings to gain the maximum political advantage. Too early and the action will be forgotten by polling day next Spring; too late and the cry will be ‘why not sooner?”
Current targets include Education and Justice.