“I recognize that there are needs that may not be met, as indeed in our educational system there are many dimensions where we still have deficiencies,” stated Fernando Alexandre, speaking to journalists at the conclusion of a ceremony for signing collaboration agreements with municipalities aimed at opening new preschool classrooms.
The event was held at the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation premises in Lisbon, where several families were simultaneously protesting outside, demanding better conditions for their children with educational needs, who are attending schools lacking sufficient teachers and staff.
Upon being asked about concerns raised by parents, who were later received by the Deputy Secretary of State for Education, Alexandre Homem Cristo, the minister expressed solidarity with the families’ situation and pledged to address the issue.
“In inclusive education, I would like to mention that we are concluding an assessment that will lead us to a revision. This, along with an evaluation of the implementation of decentralization in education, will allow us to review the ratios, resources, and needs present in schools,” he stated.
Without providing further details, Fernando Alexandre emphasized the necessity to enhance the available resources in schools by reviewing the ratios of specialized technicians.
“Each group of children with specific needs has its particular reality. These situations are often very diverse and are currently not treated with the distinction they deserve,” he acknowledged.
“This applies to all technical assistants, whether psychologists, speech therapists, social workers, or those involved in physiotherapy… There are multiple dimensions, and it’s important to remember that when supporting these children and young individuals, we frequently cross into the health domain,” he continued.
Two weeks ago, the Association of Private and Cooperative Schools (AEEP) also cautioned about the underfunding of special education, which, according to college representatives, could again threaten the functioning of schools.
In 2023, the Government, led by António Costa, revised the funding paid per student to special education schools, which had not changed since 2008, following the College Eduardo Claparède’s announcement to close due to financial constraints.
At that time, the increase was about 27%, raising the funding for students aged 6 to 18 from 511.89 to 651.26 euros per month, an increase deemed insufficient by the schools.
Currently, the operation of special education schools is not at risk, but the president of AEEP warns that by the 2026/2027 school year, they may face a critical situation if the funding amount under cooperation agreements is not updated.
“If we require private collaboration to solve these problems, we cannot impose the cost of support that falls into the social domain, which is the State’s responsibility,” argued the minister, acknowledging the possibility of revising the funding paid to those schools, which, according to Fernando Alexandre, “should not have to provide social assistance.”
