Teacher crisis in Lisbon: Seven classrooms were left without teachers, some students were not allowed into school

With the start of the new academic year in Lisbon, the teacher shortage turned into a concrete crisis. Some students were not admitted to school on Wednesday morning, September 16, because there were not enough teachers at Escola Básica Professora Aida Vieira in Bairro Padre Cruz.

It is reported that approximately half of the teachers the school needs are missing, and parents have been informed that only students with teachers can enter.

Renascença reporters confirmed the situation on the spot in front of the school.

Parents had to take their children home again

Joana Oliveira, one of the parents waiting in front of the school, said that her son's teacher problem is not new and that the child has been without a teacher since March.

According to the parent, there are no teachers in seven classes at the school.

The actual solution offered to families on Wednesday morning was to take their children home again.

The situation turns into a problem that directly affects daily life, beyond the education problem, especially for parents who have to work.

Some parents also say that they cannot receive sufficient information from the school administration. Oliveira stated that he called the police to make an official record of the situation.

Some children are being followed by CPCJ

Another striking aspect of the incident is that some students at the school were among the children followed by the Comissão de Proteção de Crianças e Jovens (CPCJ).

According to Renascença, CPCJ said, He wants an explanation as to why students are staying at home. Parents, on the other hand, argue that the children were sent to school but were not allowed in because there was no teacher and that the situation should be explained by the school.

A similar problem occurred before at the same school.

This is not the first time that the problem at Escola Básica Professora Aida Vieira has occurred.

In May, it was reported that students in a class were similarly out of school after a third-grade teacher went on leave due to a high-risk pregnancy.

The new incident brought to the agenda again the direct impact of the teacher shortage on students, which was discussed at the beginning of the academic year in Portugal.

The problem here is different from the "students who cannot be placed in school" problem, which has been on the agenda in Lisbon and its surroundings recently. These students are enrolled in school; However, some children cannot actually enter the classroom because there are not enough teachers to provide education.

Resources

Renascença — João Cunha, João Malheiro — 16 September 2026

https://rr.pt/noticia/pais/2026/09/16/escola-em-lisboa-impede-alunos-de-entrar-por-falta-de-professores/485623/