“The question is: Will this model help us achieve our goals? We will see. I am optimistic,” summarized Filinto Lima, speaking to Lusa.
The representative of school directors was referring to the new structure of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MECI), announced on Thursday, which will result in the dissolution of several entities to be integrated into new agencies.
The non-higher education system will experience the most significant reduction. From the current eight sectoral entities, which include three directorates-general, two large agencies will emerge: the Institute of Education, Quality, and Evaluation and the Agency for the Management of the Educational System.
Filinto Lima believes these changes could be positive and help resolve the challenges and inefficiencies school directors have long identified within the Ministry of Education’s services.
He gave examples of contradictory responses from different services on the same topic, excessive bureaucracy, or duplication of information requests to schools.
“The basic idea of all this is to increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and functionality of the Ministry of Education. Often, we directors complained about this lack of efficiency and effectiveness,” he emphasized.
Acknowledging this is the executive’s intention, Filinto Lima added that schools also want to feel more and better supported by the authorities.
“Now, we have to wait and see if indeed this strategy will be successful,” he noted.
The new MECI structure was announced on Thursday during a press conference following the Council of Ministers meeting.
Minister Fernando Alexandre justified the restructuring by describing his ministry as an “anachronistic structure,” with fragmented organizations, disintegrated information systems, and uncoordinated governance.
“When we started thinking about this reform, we did so with a vision: to ensure equal opportunities in access to quality education,” he argued.
The Government aims to redefine the structure of various ministries and expects this process to be completed by the end of the first half of 2026. For now, the changes to the MECI should take effect immediately upon publication of the new structure in the Diário da República.
