Status of Portugal’s Education

Portugal’s education system has been strong in the past, but it seems to be on a bit of a

decline in terms of their student enrollment. The UN’s top three priorities are putting every child

in school, improving the quality of learning, and fostering global citizenship. Portugal seems to

be excelling in improving the quality of learning and fostering global citizenship and lagging in

putting every child in school.

The graph below titled “Enrollment in primary education, both sexes” shows the decline

in children enrolled in primary education. The decline seems to have started in 1980 and has

continued to decline ever since. If you look below to the graph titled “Educational attainment”

you will be able to see that most people ages 25 and above have completed their primary

education (Education). Why is there such a decline in today’s youth not attending school? This

area seems to be the only area where Portugal needs some improvement, but it is the most

important area because these children will be Portugal’s leaders one day and they need the

proper education to run this country.

Portugal has experienced large improvements in mathematics, reading and science since

2000 (OECD). Education is compulsory from ages 6 to 18 in Portugal with comprehensive

schooling (the same curriculum for all students) until age 15. National data shows a 33%

increase in the inclusion in regular schools of students with special education needs. Also,

legislation in Portugal enlarged school choice for parents in public schools in 2012. There has

also been many recent policies changed and new practices implemented for schools since 2012.

First, Portugal developed Curriculum Guidelines for Pre-School Education and provides free

voluntary pre-primary education for 3-4 year olds. Secondly, the School Fund Support Program

that was created in 2012 aims to provide a morning meal to students identified by their schools
as facing food shortages, and to increase awareness among students and their families of the

importance of a healthy diet and eating breakfast at home. The program covered about 14,000

students in 2012 and 12,000 students in 2013. Lastly, individualized education programs for

children with special education needs provide specialized support to special education needs

students in the regular schooling system (OECD).

While fostering global citizenship in Portugal is not at the top of their priorities list, they

are still making an effort as a country to globally educate their students. There are a number of

key institutions involved in supporting and facilitating Global Education and Development

Education in Portugal at a national level. The four key institutions are Camoes, the Ministry of

Education and Science, CIDAC, and the Portuguese NGDO Platform. These institutions have

played key roles in the initiation, growth and support of Global Education and Development

Education in Portugal over the past decades (GENE).

In conclusion, Portugal’s education system aligns with the three priorities of the UN, but

they have some improvement to make in regard to putting every child in school. Portugal needs

to come up with a solution fast for this issue, because it is the most important one.

Sources

Education. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2018, from

https://data.worldbank.org/topic/education?locations=PT

GENE (n.d.). Global Education in Portugal. Retrieved from http://gene.eu/wp-

content/uploads/Gene_NationalReport-Portugal.pdf

OECD. (n.d.). Education Policy Outlook Portugal. Retrieved from

http://www.oecd.org/education/EDUCATION POLICY OUTLOOK_PORTUGAL_EN.pdf