The social-democrat deputy Pedro Alves stated that the PSD/CDS-PP Government aims to “present a proposal that aligns with what is best for higher education”.
“In this context, it will accommodate not only proposals from the PSD but also, as we understand from the hearings with other parties, there is a willingness from the Government to not only listen but also include in its proposal,” he indicated.
The Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, held meetings today at the Assembly of the Republic with all parliamentary parties regarding the Government’s proposal on RJIES.
Pedro Alves refrained from detailing which contributions might be adopted by the Government and mentioned that those from the PSD concern “the binary system, the election of leaders, or rectors, or presidents, and also, above all, strengthening the autonomy of higher education institutions,” adding that “they will be concretized only after the presentation of the draft law”.
“We didn’t bring any concrete proposals because we also want to do so based on the concrete proposal that the Government will present,” he explained.
The parliamentary leader of the PCP considered that higher education “should evolve towards a unitary system,” stating that “discriminations and asymmetries persist without any reason,” since both universities and polytechnics “award bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees”.
Paula Santos also advocated ending the “use of precarious contracts” and ensuring “effective democratic participation in the management bodies of higher education institutions”.
The communist remarked that the Government’s options lean towards “greater interference in the internal life of higher education institutions by external entities, by large companies, even towards a path of privatization that is being put forward”.
At the conclusion of the meetings, CDS-PP deputy João Almeida supported reinforcing the autonomy of higher education institutions and ensuring there is no “hierarchy between two types of institutions”, universities and polytechnics.
The Christian democrat emphasized that the executive demonstrated “openness to dialogue” and considered that this is “important for the draft law that is introduced now to be an even better law than the one introduced in the previous legislature”.
The sole deputy from BE stated “there is openness from the Government to approach” the “model of polytechnics and universities” and also expressed “concerns over internal democracy” in those institutions, particularly in the selection of the rector or president of each one.
Mariana Mortágua also advocated for the abolition of tuition fees, changes in the funding model of universities, and highlighted the issue of precarious work in these institutions.
From PAN, the sole deputy argued that the next RJIES should provide more measures in the realm of student mental health, reporting channels, and ensure “greater participation” of the academic community in electing the rector or president of each institution.
Inês de Sousa Real expressed opposition to the increase in tuition fees and said she sought to “sensitize the Government” to prevent it from happening.
