This year schools could have begunagain between 15 and 21 September,but most headteachers decided to wait for the last day to ensure they would have all their teachers.
“Only a few schools opened on the 15th. After last year’s experience, the heads were afraid things would go badly again and in order not to run that risk, they opted to stay closed until the last moment”, Filinto Lima, the vice president of the head teachers’ association (ANDAEP) told Lusa News Agency.
Last year, delays in placing teachers meant many pupils went for a month without teachers.
This year such cases are rare, Lusa saw on a visit to schools around the country.