The requests made by PSD, Chega, PS, IL, Livre, BE, and JPP were voted today in the parliamentary commission of Education and Science, following reports of alleged pressure from “influential” individuals to allow 30 candidates into the Faculty of Medicine despite not achieving the minimum grade required in the special admission test for graduates from other fields.
The statements by António Sousa Pereira drew sharp criticism from the Minister of Education, Science, and Innovation, who accused the rector of lying about a problem created by the institution itself, expressing “enormous disappointment” and stating that he would accept Pereira’s resignation if offered.
Among the various requests, Chega, Livre, BE, and JPP proposed an urgent call for both Minister Fernando Alexandre and the rector of the University of Porto to appear before the commission.
Meanwhile, the PS requested only the hearing of the rector, the IL called solely for the Minister of Education, and the PSD proposed hearings of the director of the Faculty of Medicine, the university’s head, and the minister.
During today’s meeting, the commission of Education and Science also approved an urgent hearing with Fernando Alexandre on the unfreezing of tuition fees, with PSD abstaining from the vote.
An urgent hearing request concerning the minister on the dissolution of the Foundation for Science and Technology and the future of the national scientific system was also approved, with Chega abstaining.
