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National exam results delayed, causing frustration for students

Friday, 17 July 2026AI summary
🎓 Education🏛️ Government#education-quality#exams#school-system
National exam results delayed, causing frustration for students
Photo: ECO

The National Examination Jury (Júri Nacional de Exames) confirmed that 9th-grade exam results will not be posted this Friday as originally scheduled due to grading delays. While the Minister of Education stated all exams are graded, the government has refused to set a specific time for their release, leaving schools and students in uncertainty. Opposition figures have criticized the handling of the process, with some calling for the Minister of Education to step down.

Update: National exam grades released amid ongoing delays and errors

Secondary school exam grades finally reached schools late Friday evening, though many students remain in limbo with “suspended” classifications due to missing exam components. Minister of Education Fernando Alexandre requested an additional effort from school principals to post results, while President of the Republic António José Seguro acknowledged the process did not go well and called for an audit to prevent future failures.

Context & Explainers

The National Examination Jury (Júri Nacional de Exames or JNE) is the public body responsible for organizing, managing, and overseeing national school exams in Portugal. It ensures that testing procedures are consistent across all schools and handles the official publication of student grades.

Fernando Alexandre is the Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation in Portugal's current government, which took office in April 2024. An economist by training, he previously served as a Secretary of State and is now responsible for managing the national school system and university funding. He recently sparked debate by suggesting that university tuition fees should be adjusted to account for inflation.

António José Seguro
  • President of Portugal (since March 9, 2026)
  • Party: Independent. Former leader of the Socialist Party (PS), Partido Socialista
  • Center-left

António José Martins Seguro (born March 11, 1962, in Penamacor) is a lawyer, political scientist, and the current President of the Portuguese Republic, inaugurated on March 9, 2026 after winning the two-round presidential election in January–February 2026.

Career: He led Socialist Youth (1990–1994), served as MEP (1999–2001), was Minister Adjunct to PM António Guterres (2001–2002), and led the PS parliamentary group (2004–2005). Elected PS Secretary-General in 2011 with 68%, he led the opposition during Portugal's bailout era. In 2014, António Costa defeated him in party primaries by a landslide, prompting Seguro's resignation and a decade-long retreat from politics. He returned in 2025, launching the movement UPortugal and announcing his presidential candidacy in June. He received official PS backing in October 2025 and won the presidency in February 2026.

Political philosophy: Seguro positions himself as representing a "modern and moderate" left, advocating financial responsibility while opposing austerity. As President, he has emphasized institutional trust, efficient governance, and a collaborative relationship with the government while maintaining rigorous constitutional oversight.

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