In recent years, as a result of the large increase in foreign students in the country, the Ministry of Education has been working to improve the favourable results of those whose mother tongue or first language is not Portuguese, trying to provide both access to the curriculum and educational success.
This year Portugal celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution and undoubtedly the improvement of the Portuguese Public school is a conquest that stems from that historic event. Before 1974, access to education was limited, women and the less fortunate were often excluded and the best you could aspire to was completing Primary School.
The Portuguese Public schools are a landmark in a country that still suffers from social inequality and an assurance that it is possible to thrive.
Public School- What does it offer?
Public schools offer the subject of Portuguese as a second language (PL2) – Português Língua Não Materna (PLNM) in primary school, lower and secondary education as well as in scientific – humanistic courses, specialized artistic courses and VET courses of secondary education (Vocational Education and Training).
Students who have recently arrived in the country have to submit to an initial process of sociolinguistic assessment and placement testing. In this way it is possible to ascertain which measures they should benefit from.
Different students, different needs
According to the students’ needs and language level there are solutions, provided by the schools, along with parents or legal guardians, in order to facilitate the access to the curriculum, such as: measures to support the learning and inclusion and adaptations both to the internal and external assessment process.
Courses and support measures
In general, students placed in A1, A2 and B1 language levels benefit from PLNM courses for the development of the Portuguese language and follow a specific PL2 curriculum. Those placed in B2 and C1 levels follow the national curriculum, in the subject of Portuguese, and can benefit from language support courses. These students are also allowed to use dictionaries to support them in exams of other school subjects.
These are the main guidelines issued by the Portuguese Ministry of Education; Public schools in Portugal have their own autonomy and measures which may vary. Before you decide to enroll your children, you should pay a visit to the institution and be aware of the support that will be provided.
Education is an everlasting process with ups and downs, nothing is immutable and perfect. All my life I have attended public schools, first as a student and then as a teacher. Is it the best solution? I can’t answer you, but one thing I know for sure is: without it my parents would not have been able to provide me an education and I owe the public school and my wonderful teachers all that I have accomplished in my life as a student, as a teacher but foremost as a person.