The government has submitted a proposal to the Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da República) to ratify an agreement with Brazil that simplifies school equivalence for basic and secondary education. Currently, Brazilian students represent nearly half of all foreign pupils in Portuguese public schools. While the agreement addresses primary and secondary levels, it does not yet extend to higher education.

Minister of Education Fernando Alexandre announced that the number of school schedules without assigned teachers has fallen from 1,208 in January to 448 in March. The minister attributed this improvement to new placements and the correction of administrative errors that previously inflated the data. However, teaching unions continue to dispute these figures, claiming the actual shortage remains more significant than official reports suggest.

A study by the University of Minho reveals that 72% of mayors (autarcas) believe central government funding is insufficient to cover the costs of non-teaching school staff. The research also found that 64% of municipalities face a deficit of at least 20% for school meals (apoio alimentar). The Minister of Territorial Cohesion acknowledged the shortfall and suggested a revision of the local finance law (Lei das Finanças Locais) to address the imbalance.

A revised version of the Essential Learning (Aprendizagens Essenciais) curriculum for all basic and secondary school subjects is now open for public consultation until the end of April. The update aims to modernize content and improve consistency across different school cycles, including new guidelines for Citizenship and Development (Cidadania e Desenvolvimento). Parents and educators should note that the new standards are currently being tested in 13 school clusters before a nationwide rollout next year.

Education Minister Fernando Alexandre announced that schools damaged by Storm Kristin will be rebuilt to withstand winds of 200 kilometers per hour. The government is adopting construction models used in countries frequently exposed to cyclones to ensure structural resilience and prevent future closures. Parents and students should note that the plan involves redesigning projects in collaboration with local municipalities (municípios).

Update: Government sets June deadline for delayed housing support

The government aims to complete all financial support for private homes damaged by the storm by June 30, admitting that only 10% of 30,000 applications have been processed. Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion Manuel Castro de Almeida also announced that €500 million in projects from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência or PRR) will be reallocated due to the disaster. Those awaiting support should note that 750 technicians are being deployed to help municipalities speed up damage assessments.

Education Minister Fernando Alexandre proposed a new legal framework (Regime Jurídico dos Graus e Diplomas) for university admission. Candidates would need to meet minimum levels in English, literacy, and numeracy to enter bachelor's or master's programs. Families with students should note that while the government aims to raise standards, student groups warn these requirements could exclude some applicants.

Rector Paulo Pereira requested an urgent meeting with the Ministry of Education following reports that the Nova School of Business and Economics (Faculdade de Economia or Nova SBE) seeks formal separation from the Universidade Nova de Lisboa. While the school denies wanting an institutional divorce, it continues to push for greater management autonomy and the use of English-language branding. Students and staff should note that the university leadership maintains there has been no interference in the school's internal affairs.

Thousands of students marched in Lisbon on National Student Day (Dia Nacional do Estudante) to demand free higher education and more student housing. The protest coincided with comments from Education Minister Fernando Alexandre, who suggested that tuition fees (propinas) should be adjusted for inflation after being frozen for several years. The government has promised 14,000 new beds in student residences by the next academic year to address the housing crisis. Families with university students should be aware of potential cost increases in future state budgets.

The National Federation of Teachers (Federação Nacional dos Professores or Fenprof) has announced a national demonstration for May 16 to protest the government's revision of the teaching career statute (Estatuto da Carreira Docente). The union also warned of potential strikes during the upcoming third school term if negotiations regarding working hours and job security do not improve. Parents and students should note that Fenprof will also join a general protest organized by the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses or CGTP) in April.

A general public sector strike (greve da função pública) scheduled for Monday, March 23, is expected to cause significant disruptions across Portugal. The Federation of Independent Unions of Public Administration (Federação Nacional de Sindicatos Independentes da Administração Pública or Fesinap) warns that healthcare and education will be heavily affected. Those with pending immigration or citizenship processes at the Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) or the Institute of Registries and Notaries (Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado or IRN) should prepare for delays or rescheduling.

Education Minister Fernando Alexandre announced that a major restructuring has reduced the ministry's staff by 50% and will save €50 million annually. The reform consolidated 18 entities into seven, focusing on the digitalization of human resources and administrative services. Parents and students should note that these changes aim to improve the efficiency of the National Education System.