Portugal
Portuguese Educational and Training System The Basic Education System Act - Law No. 46/86, of 14 October 1986, later amended in part by Law No 115/97 of 19 September 1997 - defines the educational system as the combined means that gives material form to the right to an education, establishes its general framework and lists its general and organisational principles. According to this Act, the educational system comprises: - Pre-school education - a form of education that complements educational activities within the family environment and should establish close cooperation with the family; - School education - comprising basic education, secondary education, higher education and specific forms of education including special-needs education, vocational training, ensino recorrente (remedial education) for adults, distance learning and Portuguese language teaching abroad; - Out-of-school education - encompasses literacy and basic education activities, activities to improve and build on scientific and cultural knowledge, as well as initial and continuing training and retraining carried out within a framework of multiple formal and informal initiatives.
1. Pre-school education Defined as the first stage of basic education in the lifelong learning process, it is intended for children aged between three and five and is not compulsory.
2. Basic education Basic education (ensino bรกsico) is for all, compulsory and free. It is intended for children aged between six and fifteen. Pupils who complete this schooling receive a certificate of basic education. This level of teaching extends over nine years and comprises three cycles: - The first cycle lasts for four years and is taught by one teacher (who may be assisted by others in specialised areas). Emphasis is placed on the integrated development of studies and activities and the teaching of a foreign language may begin; - The second cycle, lasting two years, covers interdisciplinary areas of basic education; - The third cycle lasts for three years and is structured as a set of disciplines or groups of disciplines, incorporating various elements of vocational training. Basic education is intended to provide a common general training that: - allows pupils to develop interests, aptitudes and skills and grow as individuals, in accordance with values of social solidarity; - allows pupils to acquire and master basic knowledge, skills, attitudes and values, forming the basis for further general or vocational studies;
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- encourages the development of values, attitudes and practices that help to instil a sense of civic responsibility and willingness to participate in democracy.
2.1. Remedial basic education (ensino bรกsico recorrente) Remedial basic education is a special form of education intended for individuals who have passed the usual age for this level of education (i.e. are aged over 15) and who were not able to follow normal education. It has the same objectives and leads to the same certificates as normal basic education, but uses study plans and methods suited to its target group. In some cases remedial basic education may provide an element of certified vocational training.
2.2. Vocational training This includes education and training courses intended to provide young people aged between 15 and 18 and who have missed out on the first, second or third cycles of basic education with a range of possibilities allowing them to complete their compulsory schooling and obtain a vocational qualification. These courses lead to a certificate of completion of the first, second or third cycles and a Level 1 or Level 2 vocational qualification certificate.
3. Secondary education Secondary education is a cycle of specific studies and includes various courses intended principally to prepare young people to go on to higher education or to enter the labour market. It spans three years, corresponding to school years 10, 11 and 12. The options offered by the Portuguese educational system following school year 9 are diversified both in standard education and in other forms of education.
3.1. Standard secondary education Standard secondary education comprises: - General courses - intended mainly for persons aiming to obtain secondary-level training with a view to continuing their studies in higher education; - Technological courses - intended mainly for persons aiming to obtain intermediate vocational training so they can enter the labour market. General courses lead to the diploma de ensino secundรกrio (diploma of secondary education): technological courses lead to a Level 3 vocational qualification certificate in addition to this diploma. Year 10 vocational courses are an alternative secondary-level educational and training path for young people aged 15 who have completed their compulsory education and intend to go on to obtain a
vocational qualification immediately afterwards. These courses, which last one year, lead to a Level 2 vocational qualification certificate and are equivalent to school year 10. 15
1. Philosophy of educational system The education system meets the needs arising from social reality, contributing to the full and harmonious development of personality of individuals, encouraging the formation of free, responsible, autonomous personalities, supporting and valuing the human dimension of work. Education promotes the development of the democratic and pluralistic, respectful of others and their ideas, open to dialogue and free exchange of opinions to form citizens capable of judging with critical and creative milieu in which they are involved and engage in its progressive transformation. 2. Do you practice project work? A national curriculum is followed while each school has internal projects developed for all students. Every 4 years a different topic is run by the whole school community 3. How are lessons run? The arrangement of the syllabus is run from grade to grade. Students have the opportunity to go through the material of two classes/levels in one year. 4. How are classes/seats arranged? There are 6 classes/levels in the primary school. Seats are arranged in a semi-circle way or back to back. 5. Do pupils have a personal p.c.? 6. Is there an informatics teacher? 7. Is computer lab accessible to pupils (all day?)? There is a computer lab accessible to any tutor who wishes to have a class, but not to pupils alone. The schools have informatic teacher to show pupils how to use a pc. Most pupils learn how to use a pc on their own. Pupils have personal pcs at school. 8. Who teaches foreign languages, how many hours per week, at what age (which class) do they begin English (or other)? Foreign languages are taught by professors, holding a university degree by the Language &Literature Department in question. The first foreign language taught obligatorily is English, from the age of 6 and from the age of 12 pupils choose a second foreign language between French or Spanish. Foreigner languages are taught 4 hours weekly. 9. What time do classes begin / end every day? Classes begin at 8.45 and end at 16.30 for the first four years, and at 17.15 for the rest. Are there extra afternoon classes (obligatory or not?) Pupils may stay at school until 19.30 to do their homework. How many hours per day / days per week for pupils / teachers? Pupils are at school for 25 hours (first 4 years), 30 hours after. Tutors begin working for 25 teaching hours weekly, plus 5 hours for extra activities such support in the students studies. Do pupils need to take (official) exams (at the end of the year) to pass the class? Pupils take official / national exams at primary level (with nine years old).
10. Major celebration days, holidays: National holidays: 5 October, 10 June, summer: 15 June up to 10 September Religious holidays: Christmas (2 weeks), Easter (2 weeks), 15 august, 1 November, 1 and 8 December. 11. Student / teacher clothing (uniforms?) Pupils and teachers wear uniforms until 9 years old. 12. Is there a teacher assistant in class? There is a teacher assistant in class. 13. Is there substitution of teachers? When a teacher is absent, one of the other school teachers holds his/her class. In case there are extra teachers without a class of their own, they may take over the class in question. Foreign language teachers are not replaced since primary teachers are not qualified /allowed to teach foreign languages. Whenever they are absent, the class teacher (or anyone available) is obliged to look after the pupils. 14. Are the books used similar all over the country? If not, how is selection made? Do pupils pay for them? Books are different in every school in Portugal. Each school chooses the books according to their preferences.