Education System Ages 3-18

Jardims de Infância will take children from 3 years old (sometimes younger) to 6 years. Run by professional teachers and are often combined with a day centre for the elderly and sometimes a kitchen for meals on wheels. Normally closing at 3.30pm they often provide after school activities until 6pm.

Primary education (Ensino Básico) is compulsory (although there are something like 15% non attendants). Ensino Básico is split into 3 phases: 6-9, 10-11, and 13-15. Children aged 6 on or before the 15 of September must be enrolled for their first year at school during the annual enrolment period. The school year starts in mid September and finishes in mid June.

For the fist stage, students aged 6-9 are taught by the same teacher for all subjects, then different teachers for different subjects for the 2nd and 3rd stages. The principal subjects for the 6-9 year olds include mathematics, Portuguese, the environment, personal and social development, and religious education. The children are given a heavy workload of homework with particular emphasis on Portuguese handwriting which is more elaborate than our own.

During the 2nd stage the students are introduced to English, social science, art and technology. PE at best is a once a week activity and can be swimming (if there are the facilities), football for the boys, and basketball for the girls.

The 3rd stage is a continuation with the option of a second foreign language. The students are constantly assessed and need a high percentage of attendance to complete the year, if students show poor performance in more than three subjects, particularly mathematics and Portuguese, they may be held back a year.

Between the ages of 15 to 18 students can either go to Ensino Secundário or Ensino Profissional.