Andorra Education Minister Defends 90% Teacher Absence Coverage Rate

Andorra's Education Minister Ladislau Baró defended the government's handling of teacher absences during a parliamentary control session on Thursday, stating that coverage reaches 90% of cases.

Responding to an urgent oral question from Andorra Endavant councillor Noemí Amador, Baró noted that both the current 2024-25 school year and the previous one saw around 90% of teacher sick days covered using existing resources, such as the interims pool or staff from the same school. For the ongoing year, nearly 20,000 absence days have been recorded so far, with 18,000 covered—a 90% rate. Last year, out of 24,000 total days, more than 22,000 received substitutes, equating to 91%.

Baró acknowledged that no day should ideally go uncovered but described the current figures as falling within a "margin of reasonableness." He stressed the executive's commitment to system quality, while admitting absences create concern and that covering posts presents challenges not unique to Andorra. Among uncovered days, half stem from short-term leaves of less than 15 days, with the rest due to long-term absences or medical extensions. In those instances, schools first tap the interims pool and then internal resources, always ensuring adequate coverage.

Amador, Andorra Endavant's deputy parliamentary group president, highlighted family worries over the issue. She warned that without subject-specific substitutes, schools reorganise schedules, forcing teachers from other specialties to take over classes. This practice, while maintaining continuity, risks undermining teaching quality, curricular balance and student progress, and in some cases leaves subjects untaught for months. It also increases workload pressure on staff.

Amador urged the government to outline measures for effective, specialised replacements to safeguard educational standards and proper curriculum delivery.