Education in Portugal

Educational oversight Ministers	Min. of Ed. & M. Si., Te. and Hig. Ed.1 Maria de Lurdes Rodrigues Mariano Gago
National education budget	€6.1 billion (2006)
Primary language(s) of education	Portuguese
Central system Origins University Schools Politechnic Schools Industrial Institutes Polytechnical Institutes Major reorganizations Bologna process	12th century2 (established) 12903 (established) 1837 to 19114 1852 to 19745 1970s - 1980s6 (established) 1990s and 2000s7 20108 (projected date of completion)
Literacy (2003)  • Men  • Women	92,5 % 95 % 90 %
Enrollment  • Primary  • Secondary  • Post-secondary	1,930,645 767,872 766,172 396,601
Attainment  • Secondary diploma  • Post-secondary diploma	15% 9%
1The Ministry of Education covers all education levels except higher education. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education is responsible for higher education (university and polytechnic subsystems). 2The first medieval schools were catholic church related, including the first medieval university established in 1290. 3The first Portuguese university is established in Lisbon in 1290. It is today's University of Coimbra. 4Two Polytechnic Schools were originally created in 1837 in Lisbon and Porto, and were later merged into the Universities of Lisbon and Porto created in 1911. 5The Industrial Institutes were created in 1852. Discontinued the industrial vocational studies policy, they will gave bird to some of the older schools and institutes that compose today's Politechnic Institutes. Some faculties of Lisbon's universities also originated from the original Instituto Industrial de Lisboa. 6The Polytechnic Institutes were created during the 1970s and 1980s as groups of new and existing institutes and schools. 7Several reforms and reorganizations of the overall educational system were performed, including changes on the polytechnics competences, introduction of new exams in basic and secondary schools, and extensive changes in the curricula of all levels of education. 8The Bologna process lead to a new wave of reforms and changes in education since the late 1990s onwards, specially in the universities and polytechnics.

Education in Portugal is a subject of controversy due to its complexities and state of flux. There are also concerns related to the large dropout rates (mostly in the secondary and higher education systems) and the multi generational high functional illiteracy rate, when compared with other developed countries. The education system of Portugal is regulated by the State through the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Science and Technology and Higher Education. The public education system is the most popular and well established, but there are also many private schools at all levels of education. Image File history File links Ministry_of_Education_Portugal. ... Maria de Lurdes Rodrigues (born Lisbon, March 19, 1956) is the current Portuguese Minister of Education in the governement of José Sócrates. ... Mariano Gago (born in 1948), fullname José Mariano Rebelo Pires Gago, graduated at the Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon, and did advanced research work in Paris at the École Polytechnique as a high-energy physicist. ... Funding or financing is to provide capital (funds), which means money for a project, a person, a business or any other private or public institutions. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The purpose of the Bologna process is to create the European higher education area by making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe. ... (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... For broader historical context, see 1290s and 13th century. ... Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom (1837 - 1901) 1837 (MDCCCXXXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... The 1980s refers to the years of 1980 to 1989. ... This article is 150 kilobytes or more in size. ... This article is becoming very long. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... World literacy rates by country The traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write, or the ability to use language–to read, write, listen, and speak. ... A large elementary school in Magome, Japan. ... Secondary education - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... ... Educational attainment is a term commonly used by statisticans and the US Census Bureau to refer to the highest degree of education an individual has completed. ... Secondary education - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... ... Representation of a university class, 1350s. ... The term polytechnic, from the Greek πολύ polú meaning many and τεχνικός tekhnikós meaning arts, is commonly used in many countries to describe an institution that delivers vocational or technical education and training, other countries do not use the term and use alternative terminology. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times. ... The name Catholic Church can mean a visible organization that refers to itself as Catholic, or the invisible Christian Church, viz. ... The first European medieval institutions generally considered to be universities were established in Italy, France, and England in the late 11th and the 12th centuries for the study of arts, law, medicine, and theology. ... For broader historical context, see 1290s and 13th century. ... The University of Coimbra (Portuguese: Universidade de Coimbra) is a Portuguese public university in Coimbra, Portugal. ... Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom (1837 - 1901) 1837 (MDCCCXXXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... A faculty is a division within a university. ... Instituto Industrial e Comercial de Lisboa was a former Portuguese school of industrial vocational education founded in 1852 as Instituto Industrial de Lisboa, by Minister Fontes Pereira de Melo decree of 30 December. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... The 1980s refers to the years of 1980 to 1989. ... The purpose of the Bologna process is to create the European higher education area by making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe. ... This article is 150 kilobytes or more in size. ... Dropout may refer to: // A student who quits school before graduation. ... Secondary education - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The University of Cambridge is an institute of higher learning. ... Functional illiteracy refers to the inability of an individual to use reading, writing, and computational skills efficiently in everyday life situations. ... A developed country is a country that has achieved (currently or historically) a high degree of industrialization, and which enjoys the higher standards of living which wealth and technology make possible. ... // Public education is education mandated for the children of the general public by the government, whether national, regional, or local, provided by an institution of civil government, and paid for, in whole or in part, by taxes. ...

Pre-primary education

Pre-primary education is optional from the ages of three to 5, and is provided in both state-run and private nursery schools. State-run nurser provision is free of charge; fees are payable for private nursery schools. The schools are known as Jardins-de-Infância (Kindergardens).

Pre-higher education

Basic Education lasts for nine years divided into three stages of four, two and three years respectively. The stages are respectively Ensino Básico – 1º Ciclo; Ensino Básico – 2º Ciclo and Ensino Básico – 3º Ciclo. A Diploma/Certificate is awarded at the end of the third stage. Secondary education - public, private and cooperative - is compulsory and consists of a three-year cycle after basic education. Access is through the Certificate of Basic Education. There are two types of courses: general courses and technical/vocational courses, providing instruction in technical, technological, professional fields and in the Portuguese language and culture. Permeability between the courses is guaranteed. The teaching and practice of technical, technological or artistic courses are provided by vocational schools and special schools for education in Arts. Courses are sanctioned by the Certificado de Habilitações do Ensino Secundário/Diploma de Ensino Secundário (Secondary School Credential/Diploma), which is the prerequisite for access to higher education to people aged under 23.

Basic education

In Portugal, Basic Education consists of nine years of schooling divided into three sequential cycles of education of four, two and three years.

Children aged six by 15 September must be enrolled in their first school year in that calendar year. In addition, children who reach the age of six between 16 September and 31 December may be authorized to attend the first stage of education, provided a request is submitted by their parents or guardians to the school nearest to their residence (or place of work) during the annual enrolment period. State-run schools are free of charge; private school tuition is refunded by the State in part or fully, when state-run schools in the area are filled to capacity. The first cycle of basic mandatory education covers years 1st-4th, the second cycle years 5th-6th and the third cycle years 7th-9th. The curriculum contains only general education until the 9th year at which point vocational subjects are introduced. September 15 is the 258th day of the year (259th in leap years). ... September 16 is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years). ... December 31 is the 365th day of the year (366th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ...

Schools do not give (nor sell) any books or materials; financial assistance is available for poorer families. The school books are chosen at school's level every four years.

1st Cycle State-run schools are owned by the municipalities; all other State-run schools are owned by the State.

At State-run schools, 1st Cycle students and sometimes students of other cycles get free mid-morning or mid-afternoon snacks, generally consisting of a 20 cl milk carton.

Subjects List

1º Ciclo - 1st Cycle

• Portuguese Language

• (Physical and Social) Environment Study

• Mathematics

• English (compulsory starting from 2005-2006)

Other Subjects like Physical Education, Musical Education, Catholic (or other confessions) Moral and Religious Education, are taught too, but are non-compulsory and according to school resources.

2º Ciclo - 2nd Cycle

• Portuguese Language

• Mathematics

• History and Geography of Portugal

• Foreign Language I / English or French (levels 1 and 2)

• Natural Sciences

• Visual and Technological Education (Arts and Hand Works)

• Physical Education

• Musical Education

• Personal and Social Development or Catholic (or other confessions) Moral and Religious Education (facultative)

• Project Area

• Accompanished Study

• Civic Education

3º Ciclo - 3rd Cycle

7th and 8th years

• Portuguese Language

• Mathematics

• Foreign Language I / English or French (levels 3 and 4)

• Foreign Language II / French, Spanish, German or English (levels 1 and 2)

• Natural Sciences

• World History

• Geography

• Physics and Chemistry

• Visual Education (Arts)

• Technological Education (Hand Works)

• Physical Education

• Personal and Social Development or Catholic (or other confessions) Moral and Religious Education (Facultative)

• Project Area

• Accompanished Study

• Civical Education

9th Year

Same subjects, plus:

• Information and Communication Technologies.

• Option between Visual Education and Technological Education.

Secondary education

It is only after the 9th grade of basic schooling that the Portuguese General Education system branches out into different secondary programmes, one higher education-oriented (general secondary courses/programmes) and the other more work-oriented (technological secondary courses/programmes). The conclusion of secondary education (general or technological courses) with passing grades confers a diploma, which will certificate the qualification thus obtained and, in the case of work-oriented programmes the qualification for specific jobs. All General and Technological courses share the following subjects known as General Formation:

• Portuguese Language

• Philosophy

• Physical Education (note that Portugal is the only country in Europe who obligates Secondary education students to do PE)

• Foreign Language I or II (10th and 11th years)

• Information and Communication Technologies (10th year)

• Personal and Social Development or Catholic (or other confessions) Moral and Religious Education (as above, facultative)

General Courses

• Sciences and Technologies

• Social and Human sciences

• Socio-Economic Sciences

• Languages and Literature

• Visual Arts.

Technological Courses

• Civil Construction

• Electronics

• Computing

• Equipment Design

• Multimedia

• Administration

• Marketing

• Environment and Territory Order

• Social action

• Sport.

Other types of school education

There are also special modalities of school education. The programmes offered by vocational schools, those of the apprenticeship system and those of recurrent studies are considered as a special modality of school education. These programmes are not regular, because they are not included in the mainstream regular progression of the education system to which they are an alternative given that they were designed to respond to specific educational needs of different target-groups of the population.

All of these programmes offer initial vocational and education training, although the recurrent studies also offer general education. Recurrent education consists of non-regular programmes of study or modular or single units because they are not complete training cycles and they are not included in the regular progression of the education system. The recurrent education provides a second opportunity of training for those who did not undertake training at the normal age or who left school early. Recurrent education covers the three cycles of basic education and the secondary education.

The recurrent education is characterized by the flexibility and adaptability to the students’ learning cycle, availability, knowledge and experiences. The recurrent secondary education branches into two types of courses: the general course for those who want to continue their studies and the technical courses that are work-oriented and confer a level III vocational certificate, although they also permit the access to higher education. Any of the secondary courses, vocational courses, apprenticeship courses (level III), recurrent courses and others (artistic and those of technological schools) share a three-dimensional structure (although the importance of each dimension could vary according to the specific course):

a) general / socio-cultural

b) specific / scientific

c) technical / technological / practical / vocational

The Portuguese educational/vocational system is open. This means that once any student finishes his/her basic studies successfully he/she can choose, freely, any kind of course in any training domain/area. Any secondary course completed successfully allows the student apply to any course of higher education, independently of the training domain the student chose in the secondary level of education.

In Portugal initial vocational education and training can be divided into two main modalities according to the Ministry responsible for the training:

a) Initial vocational education and training in the education system (under the regulation of the Ministry of Education): - The technological secondary courses are work-oriented and confer qualification for specific jobs, which correspond to the E.U. level III of vocational qualifications. There are eleven technological courses in the domain of natural sciences, arts, social-economic sciences and humanities; - The vocational schools courses are a special modality of education that has a primary goal: the development of youngsters’ vocational training. In this type of course the students spend most of their time in practical, technological, technical and artistic training, which allows the development of specific skills indispensable to an occupation. The vocational courses are drawn to give answers to both local and regional labour market needs. These courses function under the regulation of the Ministry of Education, although under the direct initiative and responsibility of civil society institutions, such as municipalities, enterprises, trade unions, etc. The vocational courses are available in the third cycle of basic education (level II) – only a few - and in the secondary education (level III). - The technical recurrent courses. In the secondary education, the recurrent studies branches into two different types of courses: the general courses and the technical courses. The latter are work-oriented, vocationally oriented to confer a level III vocational certificate; - The courses of initial qualification can be promoted by schools lecturing the third cycle of mandatory education. If it is necessary, schools can establish protocols with other institutions such as municipalities, enterprises or vocational training centres. These courses are open to a) youngsters who have a 9th grade diploma, without any vocational qualification, and who do not intend to continue their studies; and b) youngsters who, having reached fifteen years of age and attended the 9th grade, did not achieve the basic education certificate. Motto: In varietate concordia 2 Anthem: Ode to Joy 3 Commission seat Brussels Official languages 23 Member states 27 Presidencies  - Commission José Manuel Barroso  - Parliament Hans-Gert Pöttering  - Council Frank-Walter Steinmeier  - European Council Germany Formation    - Treaty of Rome 25 March 1957   - Maastricht Treaty 7 February 1992  Area  - Total...

b) Initial vocational education and training in the labour market (under the regulation of the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity through the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training): - Apprenticeship system. The apprenticeship courses are part of an initial vocational training system alternating between the school and the workplace, addressing mainly youngsters aged between fifteen and twenty five years who are not included in the mandatory school system. The training process alternates between the professional/vocational (where the socio-cultural, scientific-technological and the practice training in training context takes place) and the workplace (where the practice training in work context takes place).

Higher Education

Main article: Higher education in Portugal

Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education logo Higher education in Portugal is divided into two main subsystems: university and polytechnic education, and it is provided in autonomous public universities, private universities, public or private polytechnic institutions and higher education institutions of other types. ...

Overview

The tower of the University of Coimbra

Higher education in Portugal is divided into two main subsystems: university and polytechnic education, and it is provided in autonomous public universities, private universities, public or private polytechnic institutions and higher education institutions of other types. The university system has a strong theoretical basis and is highly research-oriented; the non-university system provides a more practical training and is profession-oriented. Degrees in some fields such as medicine, law, natural sciences, economics, psychology or veterinary are university. Other fields like engineering, management, education, agriculture, sports, or humanities are found both in university and polytechnic systems. Nursing, preschool education, accountancy, or paramedic degrees, are only offered in the polytechnic system. The oldest university is the University of Coimbra founded in 1290, and the biggest by number of enrolled students is the University of Porto with about 28000 students. The Portuguese Catholic University, the oldest non-state-run university (concordatary status), was instituted by decree of the Holy See and is recognized by the State of Portugal since 1971. Private higher education institutions cannot operate if they are not recognized by the Ministry of Education. Access is regulated by the same procedures as those for state higher education institutions. The two systems of higher education (university and polytechnic) are linked and it is possible to transfer from one to the other by extraordinary competition. It is also possible to transfer from a public institution to a private one and vice-versa. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 2192 KB) Summary I made it myself with my own digital camera. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 2192 KB) Summary I made it myself with my own digital camera. ... The University of Coimbra (Portuguese: Universidade de Coimbra) is a Portuguese public university in Coimbra, Portugal. ... Representation of a university class, 1350s. ... The term polytechnic, from the Greek πολύ polú meaning many and τεχνικός tekhnikós meaning arts, is commonly used in many countries to describe an institution that delivers vocational or technical education and training, other countries do not use the term and use alternative terminology. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... A private university is a university that is run without the control of any government entity. ... medicines, see medication and pharmacology. ... Equality and the balancing of interests under law is symbolised by a blindfold and weighing scales For other senses of this word, see Law (disambiguation). ... The term natural science as the way in which different fields of study are defined is determined as much by historical convention as by the present day meaning of the words. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Psychology is an academic and applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. ... Veterinary medicine is the application of medical diagnostic and therapeutic principles to companion, domestic, exotic, wildlife, and production animals. ... Engineering is the design, analysis, and/or construction of works for practical purposes. ... The term management characterizes the process of and/or the personnel leading and directing all or part of an organization (often a business) through the deployment and manipulation of resources (human, capital, natural, intellectual or intangible). ... The humanities are those academic disciplines which study the human condition using methods that are largely analytic, critical, or speculative, as distinguished from the mainly empirical approaches of the natural and social sciences. ... Nursing is a profession focused on assisting individuals, families, and communities in attaining, re-attaining, and maintaining optimal health and functioning. ... A nursery school is a school for the education of very young children (generally five years of age and younger). ... Accountancy (profession) or accounting (methodology) is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information primarily used by managers, investors, tax authorities and other decision makers to make resource allocation decisions. ... A paramedic is an Emergency medical technician certified to the highest level of training and responds to medical and trauma emergencies in the pre-hospital setting (in-field) for the purpose of stabilizing a patients condition before and during transportation to an appropriate medical facility, usually by ambulance. ... The University of Coimbra (Portuguese: Universidade de Coimbra) is a Portuguese public university in Coimbra, Portugal. ... The University of Porto (Universidade do Porto) is a Portuguese public university located in Porto. ... The Catholic University of Portugal (UCP – Universidade Católica Portuguesa, pron. ... A concordat is an agreement between the pope and a government or sovereign on religious matters. ...

Many universities are usually organized by Faculty (Faculdade). Institute (Instituto) and School (Escola) are also common designations for autonomous units of Portuguese higher learning institutions, and are always used in the polytechnical system, but also in several universities. A faculty is a division within a university. ... This is a list of Portuguese institutions providing higher education. ...

After mid 2000s, with the approval of new legislation and the Bologna Process any polytechnic or university institution of Portugal, is able to award a first cycle of study, known as licenciatura plus a second cycle which confer the master's degree. Before that, this was the rule only for university institutions. As of December 2006, only a few master's degree programmes are offered by a limited number of polytechnical institutions. Virtually all university institutions award master's degrees as a second cycle of study, but some university departments are offering integrated master's degrees through a longer single cycle of study. Some polytechnic institutions will offer the second study cycle in cooperation with a partner university, others are planning not to award any study programme beyond the first study cycle (licenciatura). Doctorates are only awarded by the universities^[1]. This article is becoming very long. ... The purpose of the Bologna process is to create the European higher education area by making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe. ... This is a list of Portuguese institutions providing higher education. ... A masters degree is an academic degree usually awarded for completion of a postgraduate (or graduate) course of one to three years in duration. ...

There are also special higher education institutions linked with the military and the police. These specific institutions have generally a good reputation and are popular among the youngsters because its courses are a passport to the military/police career. These state-run institutions are the Air Force Academy, the Military Academy, the Naval School and the Instituto Superior de Ciências Policiais e Segurança Interna. The Air Force Academy (AFA - Academia da Força Aérea) is a Portuguese military higher education institution whose aim is to provide all its students with the training and the experience that will enable them to graduate having gained the knowledge and the character qualities that are essential for... The Military Academy (Academia Militar) is a Portuguese military establishment of university higher education level which develops activities of teaching, research and support to the communities with the purpose of training and forming Officers for the Portuguese Army and the Republican National Guard. ... The Portuguese Naval School (Escola Naval) is a military school of university higher education founded in 1845, whose mission is the training of Naval Officers. ... The Instituto Superior de Ciências Policiais e Segurança Interna is a Portuguese higher education institution, a police university institute or Police academy of the PSP - Polícia de Segurança Pública. ...

University and polytechnic

Portugal has two main systems of higher education: This is a list of Portuguese institutions providing higher education. ...

• The university system, which is the oldest, has its origins in the 13th century. It is composed of thirteen public universities, one public university institute, a public open university, and several private universities and university institutes.

• The polytechnic system, that began offering higher education in the 1980s after the former industrial and commercial schools were converted into engineering and administration higher education schools (so its origins could be traced back to some earlier vocational education schools of the 19th century).^[2] It is composed of fifteen state-run polytechnic institutes, public and private non-integrated polytechnic institutions, and other similar institutions.

Representation of a university class, 1350s. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... A public university is an institution of higher education that is funded by public means through a national or regional government. ... A private university is a university that is run without input or control of any government entity. ... The term polytechnic, from the Greek πολύ polú meaning many and τεχνικός tekhnikós meaning arts, is commonly used in many countries to describe an institution that delivers vocational or technical education and training, other countries do not use the term and use alternative terminology. ... The 1980s refers to the years of 1980 to 1989. ... A blacksmith is a traditional trade. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Bologna process in Portugal

The Bologna Process was a European reform process aimed at establishing a European Higher Education Area by 2010. It was an unusual process in that it was loosely structured and driven by the 45 countries participating in it in cooperation with a number of international organisations, including the Council of Europe. The purpose of the Bologna process is to create the European higher education area by making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe. ... World map showing the location of Europe. ... The University of Cambridge is an institute of higher learning. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Palais de lEurope in Strasbourg Council of Europe Flag: used by the Council of Europe The Council of Europe (French: , German: ) is an international organization of 46 member states in the European region (with Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkey, Georgia and Cyprus also extending into Southwest Asia and Russia into...

The reform aim was to create by 2010 a higher education system in Europe, organised in such a way that:

• it is easy to move from one country to the other (within the European Higher Education Area) – for the purpose of further study or employment;
• the attractiveness of European higher education is increased so many people from non-European countries also come to study and/or work in Europe;
• the European Higher Education Area provides Europe with a broad, high quality and advanced knowledge base, and ensures the further development of Europe as a stable, peaceful and tolerant community.

Portugal, like other European States, has conducted educational policies and reforms to accomplish these objectives. This include the reorganization of both university and polytechnic subsystems and the implementation of extensive legal and curricular changes. Since its field application in 2006 is has being widely contested by students (many lost an academic year with the change), and several universities had disrepute the concept by introducing integrated master degrees in several courses.

Degree significance

Schools that adhered to the Bologna process maintained the degree names but their significance changed. In ascending order of importance: The purpose of the Bologna process is to create the European higher education area by making academic degree standards and quality assurance standards more comparable and compatible throughout Europe. ...

Bacharelato (Bachelor's degree) - title: Bacharel - abbreviation: none or Bach. A bachelors degree (Artium Baccalaureus, A.B. or B.A.) is usually an undergraduate academic degree awarded for a course or major that generally lasts for three, four, or in some cases and countries, five or six years. ...

• Non-Bologna: three-year course in a polytechnic
• Bologna: not used

Licenciatura (Academic License) - title: Licenciado (popular: Doutor or Engenheiro) - abbreviation: Lic. (popular: Dr. or Eng.) It has been suggested that Licensing (strategic alliance) be merged into this article or section. ...

• Non-Bologna: four- to six-year course in a university, or a Bacharelato complemented with one or two extra years in a polytechnic (called licenciatura bietápica, meaning dual-stage license) or university
• Bologna: three- to six-year course in a university or polytechnic.

Pós-Graduação or Especialização (Postgraduate degree) - no specific title Quaternary education or postgraduate education is the fourth-stage educational level which follows the completion of an undergraduate degree at a college or university. ...

• Usually one year of specific study for holders of a Licenciatura or Mestrado.

Mestrado (Master's degree) - title: Mestre A masters degree is an academic degree usually awarded for completion of a postgraduate (or graduate) course of one to three years in duration. ...

• Non-Bologna: advanced degree in a specific scientific field, indicating capacity for conducting practical research. Courses last two to four semesters, including lectures and the preparation and discussion of an original dissertation. It is only open to those who have obtained a grade average of 14/20 or higher in the Licenciatura course. Those with less than 14/20 may also be eligible for a Mestrado course after analysis of the curriculum by the university.
• Bologna: Licenciatura complemented with one or two extra years in a polytechnic or university.

Doutorado (Doctorate) - used in front of holder's name: Doutor

• The Doutorado is conferred by universities to those who have passed the Doctorate examinations and have defended a thesis, usually to pursue a teaching career at university level. There is no fixed period to prepare for the Doctorate examinations. Candidates must hold a degree of Mestrado or Licenciatura (or a legally equivalent qualification) and have competences and merit that are recognized by the university.

Agregação (Agrégation) - used in front of holder's name: Professor Doutor In France, the agrégation is a civil service competitive examination for some positions in the public education system. ...

• This is the highest qualification reserved to holders of the Doutor degree. It requires the capacity to undertake high level research and special pedagogical competence in a specific field. It is awarded after passing specific examinations.

Admission

Admission to state-run higher education level studies requires either a secondary school credential, Diploma de Ensino Secundário, given after twelve study years, or an extraordinary exam process available to anyone aged 23 or older. Admission to private institutions is at the total discretion of each school.

With secondary school credential

Students must have studied the subjects for which they are entering to be prepared for the entrance exams, but they are not required to have previously specialised in any specific area at the secondary school. Students sit for one or more entrance exams, Concurso nacional for public institutions or Concurso local for private institutions. In addition to passing entrance exams, students must fulfil particular prerequisites for the chosen course. Enrollment is limited; each year the institution establishes the number of places available. This is called the numerus clausus. For the public institutions the exam scores count for the final evaluation, which includes the secondary school average marks. Then the students have to choose six institutions/courses they prefer to attend, in preferential order. The ones, who reach the marks needed to attend the desired institution/course, given the attributed vacant, will be admitted. This means that the students could not be admitted at its first or second choice, but be admitted at the third or even sixth choice. In some cases, those entering polytechnics or nursing and health technologies schools, should have some previous vocational training and preference will be given to applicants from the catchment area of the institution concerned. From the academic year 2005/2006 onwards, access rules have enforced minimum grades of 95 (out of 200) in the national access examinations for all candidates in every sector of public higher education. In practical terms, and unlike what happened in the past, the new rule meant the exclusion of a large number of applicants who otherwise would have been admitted with negative grades to the less selective courses of some public institutions, and consequently lead to a number of available places for students left vacant every year in many courses. Numerus Clausus (closed number in Latin) is one of many methods used to limit the number of students who may study at a university. ...

Extraordinary Exam Process

Even without a complete secondary school education, anyone 23 or above can apply to state-run higher learning institution through the Exame Extraordinário de Avaliação de Capacidade para Acesso ao Ensino Superior (extraordinary exam to assess the capacity to enter higher-level studies), also called the Ad-Hoc exam. The process consists of the general Portuguese exam, an interview to evaluate motivation and CV, and additional exams specific to each school and course, obligatorily written and oral. Candidates approved go through a separate numerus clausus or enrolll directly at the discretion of the school's board.

Teacher education

Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers

Teachers of basic education attend 4-year courses in Escolas Superiores de Educação or at the universities to obtain a Licenciado degree.

The government as passed a law (February/2007) that makes a teacher to have also a " mestre " degree in Basic and Secundary Education.

Training of secondary school teachers

Teachers of secondary education must hold a Licenciado degree and follow courses that last for between four and six years. Studies are sanctioned by a Licenciado em Ensino or a Licenciatura - Ramo de Formação Educacional, according to the issuing institution. Educators and basic and secondary education teachers, with practice in regular or special education, may obtain a qualification to teach in specialized education. Continuous training for teachers is offered in Centros de Formação Continua.

The government as passed a law (February/2007) that makes a teacher to have also a " mestre " degree in Basic and Secundary Education.

Training of higher education teachers

Teachers at this level receive no formal professional training, but minimum qualifications are laid down for each category.

University: assistente estagiário (Licenciado); assistente (Mestre); professor auxiliar (Doutor); professor associado (Doutor and five years' service); professor catedrático (Agregação and three years' service).

Polytechnics: assistente (Licenciado); professor adjunto (Mestre or DESE); professor coordenador (Doutor and 3-years' service).

Non-traditional studies

At present, distance higher education is provided by the Universidade Aberta (Open University). Universidade Aberta, is a Portuguese distance teaching public university, created in 1988. ...

Private vs. public

Private Basic and Secondary schools and also private higher education institutions do exist in Portugal and are sometimes elite institutions (like the prestigious Universidade Católica Portuguesa in Lisbon and Porto, or some private primary, basic and secondary schools, mainly located in the biggest cities), existing among them many religious or speciality institutions. Some of the best ranked secondary schools in the country are private schools. This secondary schools ranking has been released every year in Portugal with little changes. The Portuguese Catholic University (UCP - Universidade Católica Portuguesa) is a private university of the Catholic Church, in Portugal. ...

Some Portuguese employers and families are of the opinion that the existence of private education institutions, where accessibility is based primarily on ability to pay, is not as fair as the public system and could gloom the meritocracy concept, leading to easier entrance criteria and lower teaching standards. Some private institutions are known for making it easy for students to enter and also to get higher grades - as long as they pay. Others claim that the private systems could prevent a significant portion of Portugal's population from being able to attend these schools that is also unfair. The quotas imposed on public education institutions to create room for students from former Portuguese colonies, who get automatically a place in those institutions also creates a big problem in terms of fairness, as some of these students can enter with very low grades excluding a portion of the Portuguese born students from studying in the public institutions and first choice courses they want. This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

On the other side there are some people who prefer to attend private institutions because they don't trust in the public educational infrastructure they have near their residential area. This could be related with overcrowded classes, bad reputation, criminality levels, incidence of ethnic minorities generally considered problematic, lack of quality teaching staff or bad infrastructures in that specific institution.

Traditionally, public system's institutions are regarded in general as having higher quality and accountability, but private institutions have developed fastly after the 25 de Abril revolution of 1974, and some have today a great reputation. There are both public and private institutions considered of the highest standard and quality. However, a large majority of Portuguese students attend public schools, universities and colleges because it is considerably less expensive than the private ones, the public system has a much older implantation, and for the other side it covers well the entire territory. There are also some students who simply desire and can afford to attend an elite private institution, even if they have availiablity to attend one of the largest or most renowned public institutions. Accountability is a concept in ethics with several meanings. ... The Carnation Revolution (Portuguese, Revolução dos Cravos) was an almost bloodless, leftist, military-led coup détat, started on April 25, 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, that effectively changed the Portuguese regime from an authoritarian dictatorship to a liberal democracy after two years of rule by a Left-wing military... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

School violence

The teaching quality of Portuguese learning institutions depends on the population that is receiving the training, their family background support, the teaching staff quality and motivation, the sociocultural environment and the economical development of that population. In some ghettos, specially in Greater Lisbon's suburbs where many immigrants, immigrant descendants from PALOP countries, among some other ethnic minorities, are concentrated, and also areas with higher unemployment rates and other severe social problems, exist schools with generalized high dropout and juvenile delinquency rates. In Greater Porto there are no African or other significant inmigrant ghettos like in Lisbon, but there is a high dropout and juvenile delinquency rates among nationals from former rural areas, of humble origins or from ethnic minorities from specific districts or quarters. A ghetto is an area where people from a specific racial or ethnic background are united in a given culture or religion live as a group, voluntarily or involuntarily, in milder or stricter seclusion. ... Área Metropolitana de Lisboa (Lisbon Metropolitan Area, AML) is a territorial zone that includes 18 municipalities. ... PALOP means African Countries of Portuguese Official Language (Portuguese for: Países Africanos de Língua Oficial Portuguesa). ... Dropout may refer to: // A student who quits school before graduation. ... Juvenile delinquency refers to criminal acts performed by juveniles. ... In Portugal, Greater Porto is composed of Porto, Matosinhos, Maia, Póvoa de Varzim, Vila do Conde, Valongo, Vila Nova de Gaia in the Porto District, and also Espinho in the Aveiro District. ...

School violence in Portugal is not unique to public schools or the major urban centers. Public and private Portuguese schools have all experienced an increase in school violence. However, due to the general wealth and educational background of private school student's families, and the increased private security measures adopted, private schools have generally a lower level of violence. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Violence in Portuguese schools became an educational issue for the first time during the 1990s, mainly through the persistence of parental associations and teacher claims. However it must be said that this was not the first time that violence appeared in Portuguese schools as a significant situation. For decades, during the dictatorship, police violence against students was common inside universities. After the democratisation in 25 de Abril revolution of 1974 the occurrence of violent situations reached the highest point when the intense political debate in schools often ended in physical confrontations between students and even teachers (which was not generally seen as a school violence problem but as a reflection of the violence widely present in the political debate in society). Nevertheless this was a politically socialized and framed violence, quite different from the kind of violence we can find today. That one had political programs, this one is quite anomic. Its origin is very diverse, from poverty to psychological problems. Theft, random or systematic physical aggression, bullying, destruction of school or teachers properties are realities which become current in many schools.[1] The Carnation Revolution (Portuguese, Revolução dos Cravos) was an almost bloodless, leftist, military-led coup détat, started on April 25, 1974, in Lisbon, Portugal, that effectively changed the Portuguese regime from an authoritarian dictatorship to a liberal democracy after two years of rule by a Left-wing military... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ...

In May 2006, a television program was broadcast in RTP 1, titled Quando a violência vai à escola (When violence goes to the school) by journalist Mafalda Gameiro. Using hidden cameras in the classrooms, the program shows the violent behavior of many young students (with ages between 10 and 13 years old) inside the classroom of a very problematic unidentified school, and the chaos and fear often generated. Students and teachers privacy was also protected during image recording for TV. In 2004 and 2005, the Portuguese Ministry of Education reported over 1.200 agressions inside Portuguese schools. May 2006 : ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → May 1, 2006 (Monday) Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association outraged Vatican by planning to ordain another bishop, Liu Xinhong in Anhui Province. ... RTP 1 is a Portuguese television station of RTP network. ...

Foreign international schools in Portugal

There are some foreign international schools in Portugal, specially in Lisbon and Porto areas, and also in the Algarve region. These places have a large number of settled foreign families. In general, they have good reputation. Lisbon (Portuguese: Lisboa, IPA: ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal. ... Location    - Country Portugal    - Region Norte  - Subregion Grande Porto  - District or A.R. Porto Mayor Rui Rio  - Party PSD Area 41. ... Algarve NUTS II region, and the district of Faro in Portugal Vilamouras marina Algarve chimney Vale do Lobo Beach Golf in Algarve Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Algarve The Algarve (pron. ...

VVIS International School Algarve has obtained a 100% academic success rate for the last four years for first attempmt IGCSE examinations. Other private schools have obtained world renowed status, including schools such as VVIS International School Algarve, St Julians, St Dominics and Vilamoura International School.

Notes and references

Sources

• Education in Portugal - country-studies.com
• Euroeducation.net - Structure of Educational System in Portugal
• country-data.com Portugal - EDUCATION
• Funding higher education in Portugal: between State and market, Educ. Soc. vol.25 no.88 special, Campinas Oct. 2004
• Selected Statistics for Portugal, Source: UNESCO, Institute for Statistics
• NATIONAL REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BOLOGNA PROCESS (AUGUST 2003)
• Engenharia do Séc.XX (Portuguese)
• JVCosta - Higher Education in Portugal (Portuguese)

See also

• Higher education in Portugal
• List of colleges and universities in Portugal
• Portugal

Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education logo Higher education in Portugal is divided into two main subsystems: university and polytechnic education, and it is provided in autonomous public universities, private universities, public or private polytechnic institutions and higher education institutions of other types. ... This is a list of Portuguese institutions providing higher education. ...

External links

• Portuguese Ministry of Education
• Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education