The National Federation of Teachers (Fenprof) considered this Tuesday that the State Budget for 2025 reveals a lack of strategy and ambition for science and higher education and maintains the defunding of the sector.
“The State Budget for 2025 (OE2025), in relation to higher education and science, only provides one guarantee, the that the underfinancing of the sector will continue,” writes Fenprof in a statement.
Next year, the funds allocated in the Government’s proposal for Science and Innovation, which includes higher education, will increase by 3%, with a total consolidated expenditure of 3,841.6 million euros, according to the diploma delivered two weeks ago in the Assembly of the Republic.
Highlighting that the planned funds do not reach what is recommended by international organizations such as UNESCO, which indicate an investment corresponding to 3% of GDP, Fenprof considers that the reinforcement planned for next year is “manifestly insufficient given the expected inflation levels” and the problems of the sector.
“Without strategic vision for the sector, without ambition and, therefore, reveals an effective lack of political will to resolve the problems that affect higher education and science in Portugal,” states the union organization.
Regarding personnel expenses, which grew by 5.3%, the federation recalls that in the previous budget, for 2024, the increase was greater and that even this increase was insufficient to respond to issues that they consider urgent, such as precariousness and regularization. of professional progression situations.
On the other hand, they leave criticism of the strategic objectives defined for the sectorwhich focus on the review of the Legal Regime of Higher Education Institutions (RJIES), the promotion of conditions of equity in access, pedagogical innovation and the role of research units and institutions in the main European agendas.
“There is no word for the indispensable and urgent recognition of professionals. and combat precariousness in the sector,” laments the union organization, also criticizing the lack of inclusion policies.
In relation to the RJIES, Fenprof understands that the Government prioritizes an intention to lighten the responsibilities of the central power, “particularly in terms of financing”, and points out the absence of references to the democratization of the management of the institutions and the founding regime. .
The creation of a new advisory body of the Ministry of Education, Science and Higher Education, the Council of Pedagogical Innovation for Higher Education, is also criticized, “giving the idea that the current minister devalues existing bodies, such as the National Council of Education ”. , the CRUP or the CCISP, preferring to surround themselves with those who can be appointed by them.”
On Wednesday, Scientific workers will demonstrate in Lisbon, in a protest called by Fenprof and other structures and organizations in the science and higher education sector.
The rally, against the precariousness of science, is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. in front of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, on Avenida Infante Santo, from where they will then go to the Assembly of the Republic and passing by the Foundation for the Science. and Technology.
Professionals demand an “effective and immediate response that puts an end to the precarious ties that include researchers, false guest professors, scientific managers and communicators, and research technicians.”
Source: Observadora
