Ministry report: 29% of educator replacement needs went uncovered in 2024–25

During the 2024–2025 school year there were far fewer absences in the education workforce than in the previous year, but around a third of those absences could not be covered, according to the Human Resources report from the Ministry of Education. The report records 165 medical leaves, 11 administrative permits and 10 cases related to mobility, unpaid leave, resignations and retirements — 186 needs for replacement in total. Authorities were able to fill 131 of those posts (71%), leaving 55 positions (29%) uncovered.

Broken down by professional group, the report notes 60 medical leaves among educational collaborators, 76 among teachers, 48 among secondary school teachers, one among educational psychologists and one among technicians. Structural positions filled during the year totalled 324: 40 educational collaborators, 106 teachers, 159 secondary school teachers, nine technicians and 10 educational psychologists.

Compared with 2023–2024, there were 71 fewer absences in 2024–2025; in the earlier year 33.79% of absences went uncovered. The Ministry also reports there were 49 fewer structural posts in 2023–2024 than in 2024–2025.

On selection processes, 117 candidates were declared suitable and 19 were declared unsuitable during the year. To consolidate permanent posts, especially in the education technicians category, the department put 26 vacant secondary-teacher posts (Catalan and human and social sciences) and two head-of-area posts out to competition. Those vacancies were difficult to fill on the first call: only six candidates succeeded.

Access to the personnel pools remained weak: very few candidates applied in 2024–2025 and only one person entered the technicians’ pool.

Minister of Institutional Relations, Education and Universities Ladislau Baró said the first signs of a change of direction in the Andorran education system should appear by 2027. The shift includes consolidating permanent posts for both teachers and secondary school teachers and a curricular redefinition focused on simplification. The Department of Educational Quality is working with emeritus professor César Coll on conceptual work around competency-based education, and OECD experts are studying how to improve governance and organisation at individual schools.