The socialist initiative aimed at enhancing practical learning in classroom settings was approved with votes against by the PSD and CDS-PP, abstention from Livre, and supporting votes from the remaining parties during the special presentation of the State Budget proposal for 2026.
The measure stipulates that starting from the 2026/2027 academic year, the government should, in collaboration with higher education institutions, “implement paid internships with supervised teaching in master’s programs in Education, ensuring pedagogical conditions that reinforce practical learning in real classroom settings and value the teaching profession in initial training.”
In the explanatory statement accompanying the proposal, the PS parliamentary group argues that “supervised practical experience in classroom settings is a crucial moment for the consolidation of professional skills and the progressive integration of future teachers into the educational community.”
“In this regard, enhancing the professional internships in teaching master’s programs through supervised teaching and corresponding financial compensation is a significant step in strengthening the attractiveness and quality of the teaching profession. The remuneration acknowledges the effective contribution of interns to the educational life of schools and allows for more equitable conditions for access and permanence in training,” it reads.
The PS further emphasizes the “potential mutual benefit” of this measure: “for students, who gain more consistent and valued teaching practice experience; and for schools, which benefit from the contributions of new professionals in training, adequately supported and supervised.”
