Andorra Endavant Questions Government on Specialist Teacher Shortages in Schools

The Andorra Endavant parliamentary group questioned the government on Thursday over shortages of specialist substitute teachers in schools, prompting Education Minister Ladislau Baró to defend the executive's coverage record.

During a parliamentary control session, deputy president Noemí Amador pressed Baró on measures to ensure effective replacements for absent specialists across subjects. She highlighted how recent absences have forced schools to reorganise schedules, with teachers from other fields taking on unrelated classes. Andorra Endavant warned that this practice, while maintaining lesson continuity, risks teaching quality, curriculum balance, and student progress. In some instances, entire subjects have gone untaught for months, increasing workloads and pressure on staff, while sparking concern among families and educators.

Baró acknowledged the challenges of teacher absenteeism but stressed that coverage remains strong. For the 2024-25 academic year, out of 24,000 absence days, more than 22,000—91%—were covered using in-house resources or the interims pool. This year, around 90% of nearly 20,000 absence days so far have been addressed similarly. Half of uncovered days stem from short-term leaves under 15 days, with longer absences relying on external hires where possible.

The minister described the uncovered 10% as within "reasonable margins," given difficulties seen across education systems. He affirmed the government's commitment to quality, insisting all coverage meets standards, though no day should ideally go without a teacher. Amador countered that the situation fuels family unease and suggested alternatives like deploying school management teams or ministry staff for relief.