Developments in Portugal’s digitalization strategy are expected to be unveiled in May, according to Fernando Alexandre. At that time, the government is set to present a program, initially announced by the Minister for Administrative Modernization, Gonçalo Matias, aimed at providing each student with an AI tutor that “listens, guides, and inspires learning.”
When questioned about the implementation of AI tutors for each student, the minister explained that the intention is “to leverage what artificial intelligence offers today,” emphasizing that the “failure to use it is the biggest mistake anyone can make today”.
Referencing the K-12 education system used in the United States, the minister noted that it includes “an essential program where AI identifies learning gaps and adapts tutoring to student deficiencies.”
Confident that AI will “enhance capabilities,” Fernando Alexandre argued that not utilizing this tool would leave the education system “behind.”
The minister clarified that the program is meant “not to replace teachers, but to complement them,” and aims to extend what is already practiced in higher education to other levels, with “companies even already providing artificial intelligence to all students.”
Emphasizing that education “must ensure equal opportunities,” he asserted the necessity of incorporating digital and AI tools.
Fernando Alexandre made these comments in Alcobaça during a visit to Escola Secundária D. Inês de Castro, where he inaugurated the Specialized Technological Center for Computing, benefiting from an investment of approximately 800,000 euros under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).
When addressing the revision of the vacancy ordinance for teacher placement, the minister acknowledged an “error.”
“Once an error occurs, and realizing we can better allocate 1,800 teachers in underserved educational zone frameworks, I am obliged to make changes,” he stated.
“Unlike past practices, where vacancies were distributed nationwide in ways that were often not well-considered,” the minister claims there is now a targeted opening of vacancies “with criteria, and for specific recruitment groups” in some educational zones.
According to the minister, “1,800 vacancies are being opened, whereas there are roughly 1,000 unfilled schedules nationwide.”
Despite the increased number of vacancies, the minister mentioned there will “always be many unfilled schedules, as thousands of people are retiring.”
The minister, criticized by the National Federation of Education (FNE) for the shortcomings in assessing school needs that necessitated mid-competition corrections to the vacancy ordinance, expressed having “no problem admitting the error and making corrections.”
“Ultimately, what matters is the outcome. And the outcome will be better if the solution is better,” he concluded.
The education minister has postponed to December the presentation of a strategy to tackle reading issues affecting learning in not only Portuguese but all subjects.
A report released today by the Institute for Education, Quality and Evaluation (EduQA) on the Reading Fluency Diagnosis for 2nd-year students revealed that while most students have reading comprehension levels expected for their age, about 25% are at risk of future difficulties.
Fernando Alexandre indicated that in December, in Santarém, he will “present not only the results of these assessment reports but also strategies with schools” and government measures to address these students’ challenges.
