Comment on asking teachers to emigrate

I have left this comment on an article on the great blog Blasfemias.net.  The article defends the comments of the  prime minister concerning unemployed teachers should emigrate.


"I beg to differ. The idea of sending away qualified and educated Portuguese abroad, because there is no work here is in essence defeatist. It removes the focus from the important objective of creating conditions for companies to employ and produce more.
Concerning the teachers in particular, it is obvious there are too many now and in the future. But instead of asking them to emigrate they should be requalified for other professions. Already Portugal is one of the countries in Europe with the least educated working force. Also asking the teachers to emigrate will only make sure the smartest and most dynamic leave. They are the ones most needed.
Instead the teachers of no talent or mediocre talent should be fired. In fact, a small percentage should be let go every year. No matter the length of career. 20%-30% less teachers at a higher salary would not hurt Portugal. It might once again make teaching a profession of high status sought out by gifted people. Personally, I cannot think of a more important profession…"

Now, if you are a teacher and can get no job, and really want to teach - then the prime minister is correct.  There be jobs outside Portugal.

Furthermore, the old fashioned idea of a job for life or even the same profession for a life is no longer valid.  People should continuously seek education and requalification as necessary.  If nothing else for the pure pleasure of it.

Defeatism at its worst

Hat tip: Journal de Negócios

The Communist Party, bless their little revolutionary hearts, are making an official question to the Minister on how it is possible young people going to the "Centros de Emprego" ("employment centers", public offices helping people finding work), now are being asked to emigrate?

I already knew the government statements concerning getting rid of am embarrassing problem - in fact it has publicly been stated that the young should leave their comfort zone, implying it is their own fault, and emigrate to get a job.  Now the public announcement has become official policy and has been implemented. (*)

Amazingly, the government is not worried about brain drain, the millions of investment lost or even that Portugal has NO FUTURE without young people.   Are there any demographers working for the government in Portugal?  They could tell any politicians with a brain (not many) that Portugal needs more young people - not less.  In not too many years the demographic bomb will have created a society with more old than people working.  And it is worse in Portugal than practically anywhere else, because of a birth rate of 1.3. Who will pay for all these old people?

Have you noticed all the countries in Europe (and even world wide) doing the opposite?  Trying to keep their young at home, even considering threatening them with a bill for their education if they emigrate! And what about all the measures taken to attract and invite well educated young from abroad to come stay?  I bet other countries are very happy to receive the educated, hard working and dynamic young people now leaving Portugal.  Because a lot of the best will be the ones with guts to leave.  By the way, they will probably leave for good - as statistics show that young people emigrating do usually not come back.

Asking young people to emigrate is the worst defeatist policy I can imagine.  Well, I suppose selling Portugal to the highest bidder is slightly worse - but might in fact be better for the young.

I had some hopes for the new PSD government, but it is just more of the same.  Let us solve the problems any way possible.  Here is a good one.  Get the young to leave.  Less unemployment, less demonstrations/uprisings, less costs, less babies, less schools.  Our policies will work and we will be elected again.

Shame on you!

(*) The only bright spot in all this is that the "Centros de Emprego", now can be closed.  Just replace it with a warning:  "There are no jobs in Portugal.  Emigrate."   Next, we can close the Ministry of Labor.