Margarida Belchior, researcher at CEIED – Interdisciplinary Centre for Education and Development of Universidade Lusófona, has recently published an opinion article in the Portuguese newspaper Público addressing teacher shortages and the articulation between the 1st and 2nd cycles of basic education.

In the article, titled “Teacher shortage and the integration of the 1st Cycle of Basic Education with the 2nd Cycle”, the author critically reflects on structural challenges affecting the Portuguese education system, particularly the lack of teachers and its implications for curricular and pedagogical organization.

The analysis highlights the need to rethink articulation models between education cycles, in a context where teacher shortages have been worsening and have become a structural issue, affecting thousands of students across the country.

The article contributes to the public debate on education policies, emphasizing the importance of sustainable solutions to ensure quality education and the valorization of the teaching profession.

The full article is available in Público: https://www.publico.pt/2026/04/11/opiniao/opiniao/falta-professores-integracao-1-ciclo-ensino-basico-2-ciclo-2170892