Fenprof denounces irregularities in teachers’ working hours

The National Federation of Teachers (Fenprof) reported this Thursday to the General Inspectorate of Education and Science (IGEC) that there are teachers working more than 35 hours per week, warning of irregularities in working hours.

“There are many illegalities. From abuses in the academic and non-teaching components to exceeding 35 hours [de trabalho semanal]. We had a survey in the 2nd and 3rd cycles in which it was realized that teachers work more than 50 hours a week”, said Fenprof’s deputy secretary, José Feliciano Costa, in a video posted on YouTube.

Fenprof met this Thursday with IGEC in Lisbon, in a meeting in which they presented “a set of dossiers” that had already been delivered to the Minister of Education, João Costa.

“What we said was, clearly, that it is only because of political will that this situation has not yet been resolved,” said the union leader.

Admitting a limited role in IGEC’s interference in resolving teachers’ complaints, Fenprof recalled that irregularities in teachers’ working hours and conditions “is one of the issues that causes the most physical and emotional exhaustion to teachers in schools”.

“We also realized that the Inspection [IGEC] It has a limited role here, that is, it acts when there is a complaint, but, in fact, this situation should have already been resolved (…) by the minister, by the Secretary of State. AND [também] a warning that we left to the next Government — that we want this issue of timetables to be resolved. We will not give up on continuing to insist”, he highlighted.

Fenprof also highlighted the tasks assigned outside the functional content of the teaching profession, namely support or maintenance of technological equipment, as well as technical support for digital tests, and illegal formation of classes, particularly with regard to the number when they include students with special educational needs.

José Feliciano Costa added that there is a petition “to resolve these problems” that has been circulating in schools and that will soon be delivered to the Assembly of the Republic.