The Portuguese education system aims to provide all with a basic education and promote lifelong learning. It is managed by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Science. Education is divided into pre-school, compulsory, secondary, higher, and special education. Higher education provides degrees up to the doctorate level at universities and polytechnics. Teachers require an initial master's degree and licensing exams. Schools are publicly funded and parents participate through governing councils.

1. Targu-Jiu ,October, 2012

2.  The main goal of the Portuguese education is to ensure an educational basis for
everyone, seen as the beginning of an educating and personal process of
formation throughout life.
 The coordination of the policy for the educational system is the responsibility of:
◦ The Ministry of Education – pre-school education and compulsory education
◦ The Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education – higher education.

3. Portuguese Educational
System
Higher
Pre-school Compulsory education education
education (6-17 years old)
(18-28 years old)
(3-5 years old)
1st Cycle 2nd Cycle
(6-9 years old) 3rd Cycle
(10-11 years Upper secondary
old) (lower
secondary education
Nursery education) (15-17 years old)
school (12-14 years
old)
Courses
Scientific- Technological Specialised
Vocational
Humanistic Artistic

4. Higher Education
Universities Polytechnics
First- Master´s
First- Master’s
PhD degree degree
degree degree

5.  Pre-school education optional for children from the age of 3 till they enter
compulsory education and is provided both in state-run and in private nursery schools.
 State-run nursery provision free of charge; fees are paid in private nursery schools.
Aims:
◦ Stimulate the children’s skills and encourage their development;
◦ Contribute to their emotional stability;
◦ Promote integration in different social groups;
◦ Develop expressive and communication skills;
◦ Encourage hygienic and healthy habits;
◦ Detect early signs of dysfunctions, special gifts,…

6.  In the 1st cycle of compulsory education pupils are taught by one generalist
teacher, being usually supported by other teachers in specialised areas, such as
English and other foreign languages, Music and Physical Education.
 In the 2nd cycle of compulsory education pupils are taught by subject specialist
teachers or curricular area teachers.
 In the 3rd cycle and upper secondary education, specialist teachers support
pupils’ education.
 State-run schools are free of charge.

7.  Specialised technological courses provide a post secondary non-higher education,
and among other objectives, aim at promoting a training path that combines
qualification and professional skills and competences with the possibility of
proceeding to higher education.
 Students who successfully complete this type of training are awarded both a
diploma of technological specialisation and a level 4 professional qualification;
these courses can also confer a certificate of professional aptitude.
 Students who successfully complete this cycle of education are awarded a
secondary education diploma.
 Technological, specialised artistic and vocational courses also confer a level 3
professional qualification.

8. Aims:
 The aim of the compulsory education in Portugal is not only to impart knowledge,
but also to promote personal development;
 Great emphasis is placed on developing practical skills and aptitudes, on creativity
and critical evaluation;
 The school is based on humanistic and democratic ideals and aims to promote
values like tolerance and freedom of thought, equal status, equality of
responsibility and participation in decision-making;
 The pupils are supposed to learn cooperation on the one hand and independence
and personal responsibility on the other.
Leads to the diploma of basic education

9.  Higher education in Portugal includes university and polytechnic education,
administered by public, non public or co-operative institutions of higher
education.
 To apply to higher education via the national system, students must fulfil the
following requirements:
to have an upper secondary education course or legally equivalent
qualification;
to take the necessary entrance exams for the course they wish to attend with
a minimum mark of 95 points;
to satisfy the necessary pre-requisites (if applicable) of the course they are
applying to.
 Entrance to each higher education institution is subjected to numerus clausus.
 Fees are set by the different higher education institutions, being its amount
defined between a minimum and a maximum, depending on the type of the
course.

10.  Higher education provides the following academic qualifications: First-degree,
Master’s degree and PhD.
 University and polytechnic institutions confer First-degrees and Master’s degree,
while universities also award PhD.

11.  The concept of special educational needs apply to every child or young person
showing any learning difficulty any time during their academic life.
 Special education is organised in a continuity of responses among
groupings/classes and specialised units, which support inclusion and work in
reference schools.
 The Basic Educational Establishments assure pedagogical activities to students
requiring special teaching needs, namely special teaching, pedagogical support
and specific professional orientation.

12.  It is a special type of schooling which is available for those who did not complete
basic education at the usual age of school attendance (up to 15);
 It has the same objectives as regular basic education, although it adopts study
plans and methods appropriate for its target users;
 It may provide a certified vocational training component besides the basic
education diploma.

13.  In accordance with the Education Act the training of non-higher education
teachers involves initial, specialised and continuous training.
 Initial teacher training is carried out in higher education institutions – polytechnic
and universities – with the Master's degree being the minimum academic
qualification for the teaching profession, according to the changes introduced
within the Bologna Process.
 To enter the profession it is necessary to possess a professional qualification
conferred by a polytechnic or a university for the cycle or recruitment group one is
applying to, and pass the knowledge and competencies test (designed to evaluate
scientific readiness) as well as obtain, at least, the mark of Good in the
performance assessment of the probationary period (to assess pedagogic and
didactic competencies).
 Access to the teaching employment in the public sector is done via national
application, based on academic qualification and professional experience.

14.  During the kindergarden and Basic Education, the government assures, through
specific criteria, some welfare measures to students needing social and
economic support, being helped through a compensation in canteen fees,
transportation, lodging, school books and scholarships.

15.  Parents’ cooperation is quite important in the Portuguese schools. They
participate , through their representatives, in the:
General Council
Class Teachers Assembly
 Each class has a director who’s responsible for the work related to that class and
sets contacts throughout the year between parents and school.

16. General Council
Directive board Administrative
Pedagogic board
board

17.  General Council is the body responsible for the definition of
guidelines for school activities and the participation and representation of the
educational community;
 Executive Board the administration and management board of the
school/school cluster in teaching, cultural administrative and financial areas.
The executive board is made up of one Director, one Vice-Director and two
assistants.
 The Pedagogical Board responsible for the educational co-ordination
and guidance of the school/school cluster.
 The Administrative Board takes decisions about the
administrative and financial matters. It is made up of the President and one of
the Vice-Presidents of the executive board and one of the President’s assistant.

18.  Pre -School, Basic and Secondary Schools and School Clusters.
 A School Cluster is an organisational unit with its own administration and
management set up vertically, which includes pre-school, 1st, 2nd, 3rd cycle
schools and upper secondary education, based on a common teaching plan.

19.  It’s a Cluster of 14 schools, 1255 pupils, 59 classes, 117 teachers and 67
permanent staff, in one municipality: Torres Novas
Pre-School - 7 kindergartens = 196 children (12 classes); 13 nursery-school
teachers; 13 permanent staff:;
1st Cycle Basic Schools – 6 = 504 pupils (20 classes); 25 teachers; 16
permanent staff;
2nd and 3rd Cycle Schools – 1 = 2nd cycle =309 pupils (15 classes);
3rd cycle = 246 pupils (12 classes) ; 79 teachers ; 38 permanent staff

20. We offer:
Mainstream - up to 9th grade
Adult Education - Education and training courses for adults, which can confer
a basic or secondary education certificate.

21. Torres Novas
The castle was rebuilt by Sancho I
The Roman at Villa Cardilium presence
Agrupamento Gil Paes
The beauty of the Almonda river
Grouts in Lapas – a mysterious place