The José Saramago Foundation stated on Monday (March 30) that it seeks to unite rather than compare, but questioned the criteria for removing the Portuguese Nobel laureate's work from the mandatory essential learning list for secondary education, according to a preliminary proposal. The foundation suggested replacing the word 'or' with 'and' to include Mário de Carvalho alongside Saramago, rather than replacing him. The proposal, currently under public consultation, also updates the list of authors for short stories and poetry, including names such as Maria Judite de Carvalho, Fiama Hasse Pais Brandão, and others, while expanding the study of Fernando Pessoa.