Last school year, the Ministry of Education allowed school principals to hire 286 mediators, who began arriving at schools in February to assist foreign students.

However, these mediators have been "unemployed since September 1st, and we, principals, could have reinstated these mediators with a click of a button, but they wouldn't let us," lamented Filinto Lima, president of the National Association of Principals of Public Schools and Groups (ANDAEP), in statements to Lusa Extra.

During the last two school years, schools have seen the number of international students double—now numbering over 140,000—and the ministry announced that some schools could hire cultural and linguistic mediators to support student integration.

Although some of the mediators only arrived at the schools at the end of the second semester, the measure was applauded by principals, who requested additional staff and the possibility of them remaining for the following school year.

The ministry accepted the initial suggestion, announcing in the summer that it could hire 310 technicians this year. But just hours before the start of another school year, schools have "zero mediators," and Filinto Lima fears that in some cases it will take months for them to start arriving.

This is because schools will have to launch a new selection process for the more than 300 positions, which "could take weeks and possibly months," he warned, emphasizing that "many principals would be happy to re-hire the mediators who arrived at the schools last year."

Until then, students will be accompanied in the classroom by other staff, but "with many difficulties," also making "the task of teachers and schools more difficult," he emphasised during the interview with the Lusa podcast.

Around 1.6 million children and young people start classes this week, and many schools in the Lisbon, Algarve, and Alentejo regions continue to look for teachers to fill vacant schedules.