- Preschool education is the first stage of education and is optional for children ages 3-4, but universal and free for children ages 4. It is ensured by both public and private institutions. - Compulsory schooling in Portugal includes primary and secondary education from ages 6-18, covering 12 years of education. - Basic education is divided into 3 cycles from ages 6-15. Secondary education lasts 3 years and includes both academic and vocational courses to prepare students for active life or further study. Vocational courses are available at both basic and secondary levels to offer students more practical skills.

1. PRE-SCHOOL EDUCATION
It isconsideredthe firststage of the educational system.
It has a formative role andcomplementsfamilyeducationwithwhichitmustestablishclose
cooperation.
It isoptional forchildrenfrom3 yearsof age until theyenter compulsoryeducation.
It isuniversal forall children,fromthe age of 4, whichmeansthatthe State has the dutyto
guarantee,forthisage group,the existence of afree preschool educationnetworkthat
allowsthe registrationof all children.
It isensuredbythe State,private institutionsandcooperatives,private institutionsof social
solidarityandnon-profitinstitutions.
SCHOOLING
School Educationincludesthe Basic,SecondaryandHigherEducation.
Law 85/2009, of August27, establishescompulsoryschoolingforprimaryandsecondary
education,thusextendingcompulsoryeducationto12 years,coveringall childrenandyoung
people betweenthe agesof 6 and the 18 yearold.
BASIC EDUCATION
The Basic Educationisorganizedin3 cycles:
The 1st Cycle lastsfor4 yearsand includeschildrenfrom6to 10 years of age.It is organized
incurricular areas:
Disciplinary - Itencompassesthe disciplinesof:
ArtisticExpression/Motor;
Middle study;
Portuguese language;
Mathematics.
Non-disciplinary - Includesthe areasof:
ProjectArea;
AccompaniedStudy;
Civicformation.
Disciplinarysubjectsof optional frequency - encompassesthe disciplineof Moral and
ReligiousEducation.

2. The 2nd Cycle lasts2 years and includeschildrenfrom10 to 12 years ofage.
It isorganizedincurricularareas:
Disciplinary - Itencompassesthe followingareas:
Languagesand Social Studies(Portuguese Language,ForeignLanguage andHistoryand
Geographyof Portugal);
Mathematicsand Sciences(MathematicsandNatural Sciences);
ArtisticandTechnological Education(VisualandTechnological Education,MusicEducation
and Physical Education);
Personal andSocial Education(Moral and ReligiousEducation) - Optional.
Non-Disciplinary - Includesthe areasof:
ProjectionArea;
AccompaniedStudy;
Civicformation.
The 3rd Cycle lasts for 3 years and includeschildrenfrom12 to 15 years of age. It is also
organizedin curricular areas:
Disciplinary:
Portuguese language
ForeignLanguage (LE1 + LE2)
HumanitiesandSocial Sciences - HistoryandGeography
Mathematics
Physical andNatural Sciences - Natural SciencesandPhysics-Chemistry
EducationAndTraining
Otherdiscipline(Musical,TheaterorDance Ed.)
Education
PE
IntroductiontoICT (9th year)
Personal andSocial Training
Moral and ReligiousEducation(optional)
NonDisciplinary:
ProjectArea
AccompaniedStudy

3. Civicformation
Each of the Cyclescompletesanddeepensthe previousone,and,therefore,theremustbe a
solidarticulationbetweenall.
VOCATIONALCOURSES OF BASIC EDUCATION
Vocational coursesinensinobásicoare intendedforstudentsfromthe age of 13 withtwo
retentionsinthe same cycle ormore than tworetentionsindifferentcyclesthroughouttheir
school journey.These coursesare organizedinmodules andhave the collaborationof
differentcompanies,institutionsandentities,basedinthe same geographicareaof the
school,which,inpartnership,offermomentsof simulatedpractice,appropriate tothe age of
the studentsorcontribute eventothe teachingof modulesvocational component.
Vocational coursesare equivalenttothe 6th or 9th yearof schooling,butdonotconfer
professionalcertification.The studentswiththe 9thyearof schoolingcanpursue studies:
In general education,providedthattheyare usedinthe final national testsof the 9th grade;
In vocational education,providedtheyhave successfullycompletedall the modulesof the
course;
In vocational secondaryeducation,aslongastheyhave completed70% of the modulesof
the general andcomplementarycomponentsand100% of the modulesof the vocational
component.
HIGH SCHOOL
Secondary Education lastsfor 3 years andis organizedindifferentways,accordingtoArticle
10 of the Basic Law of the Educational System, "the existence of coursespredominantly
orientedtothe active life ortothe continuationof studies,containingall theyare
componentsof technical,technological andvocational trainingandof Portuguese language
and culture appropriate tothe nature of the variouscourses."
Let's lookat a brief summaryof the existingcourses:
Scientific-HumanisticCourse inLanguages andHumanities
ScientificandHumanisticCourse of SciencesandTechnologies
ScientificandHumanisticCourse of SocioeconomicSciences
Scientific-HumanisticCourse of Visual Arts
Technological Courses
SpecializedArtCourses
Professionalcourses

4. All courseshave a general trainingcomponentandspecifictrainingaccordingtotheir
purposesanddifferentareasof knowledge.
The Technological, SpecializedArtisticandProfessional coursesare partof a periodof
learningina workcontextwhere itispossible todevelopasetof knowledgeandskillsbased
on the respective course.
VOCATIONALCOURSES AT SECONDARY LEVEL
Secondaryvocational coursesare designedforpupilsaged16and over,inparticularthose
whoare at riskof droppingoutof school,andwho,althoughtheyhave achieved
achievementinbasiceducation,wantamore technical offerthatallowsthemawayout
professionalexperience.
Thisoptionrequiresthe agreementof the EducationOfficersif the studentsare minors.As
invocational coursesinbasiceducation,there isthe collaborationof companies,entitiesand
partnerinstitutionsthatare locatedinthe geographical areaof the school,whichare
involvedinthe traininginternshipsandcontribute tothe vocational component.Vocational
coursesat the secondarylevel conferqualificationlevel 4of the National Qualifications
Framework(12th yearof schoolingandlevel 4certificate).