Four Out of Ten Teachers in Brazil Work Extra Shifts to Supplement Income

06/30/2015 - 09h59

Kassyus Lages, 38, a history teacher in Teresina, takes advantage of breaks between classes to promote the sale of clothes and shoes.

Andrea Almeida, 35, divides her time between manicurist and math teacher as part of a local network in Maranhão while she awaits approval from a statewide contest–currently, she juggles both class sessions.

Kelly Naves, 40, ended up working three shifts in education in Belo Horizonte. Even today, he skips lunch because it takes him almost an hour to travel from one school to the other in the capital of Minas.

As residents of different parts of Brazil, these three examples belong to a statistic of teachers who have resorted to working double (or even triple) shifts. And they can feel the effects.

Today, four out of ten teachers in the basic network of teachers in the country, or 41% total, participate in activities both in and out of education to supplement their income.

Of that group, 10% end up accepting work outside of the field. This data, gathered by "Todos pela Educação" or "Everyone for Education" upon Folha's request, are from a questionnaire completed by 225 thousand teachers that belong to the public network for grades 5-9 of primary education.

The sample covers the prime years of that stage of education. Altogether, primary education incorporates 1.4 million teachers.

In 16 states, the index exceeds the national average. Rio Grande do Norte (55%) and Roraima (54%) take the lead. At the other end, Tocantins and the Federal District report 22.6% and 12.7%, respectively. In São Paulo, nearly 41% of professors in primary education engage in extra activities.

The survey also reveals that 30 percent of teachers that work 40 hours or more per week also make time to supplement their income with other activities.

Translated by SUGHEY RAMIREZ

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