The only Portuguese-language kindergarten in Macau, Jardim de Infância D. José da Costa Nunes, has reduced its teaching staff due to declining student numbers, a trend linked to the region’s low birth rate and a shrinking Portuguese community.
Miguel de Senna Fernandes, president of the institution, confirmed that six educators and four teaching assistants will leave, reducing the staff from 24 to 18. Two educators had already chosen not to renew their contracts at the start of the year.
Macau recorded 2,871 births in 2025, the lowest number in nearly 50 years. The fertility rate has fallen for 11 consecutive years, reaching a historic low of 0.47 children per woman aged 15–49. The decline has affected the local education system, with 26 fewer kindergarten classes and 63 fewer early childhood educators in the current school year.
Read more about this topic: Macau’s fertility rate falls to new record low in 2025
Costa Nunes currently has around 190 students across nine classes, down from over 230 students and 13 classes in previous years. The reduction is also attributed to the decreasing Portuguese community in Macau, especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The kindergarten is part of Macau’s public education network and receives government support, but each pre-primary class must have at least 25 students to qualify for full subsidies—a threshold the school has struggled to meet.
Macau has introduced measures to boost the birth rate, including child allowances and increased maternity and marriage subsidies, alongside plans to expand free childcare services.
