The Regional Secretary of Education, Elsa Fernandes, has warned of a structural teacher shortage in Madeira, exacerbated by an aging teaching force and a lack of professionals in specific subjects.
Fernandes identified Information Technology and Portuguese language teaching as the most affected areas. To address this, the University of Madeira will launch a professionalization-in-service course, with tuition fully covered by the Regional Secretariat of Education for teachers employed by the authority.
The official also reflected on the 40th anniversary of the Basic Law of the Education System, deeming it still relevant and noting the profound transformation of education in Madeira, with all children now attending school. The next challenge, she stated, is to ensure personalized education.
