NRP Portugal

MeasureDescriptionCurrentstatus: inpreparation/ in progressExpected results until2010NotesNationalRequalificationProgramme for theSchool Network forthe 1 st Cycle of BasicPre-School educationSupport Programmeto extend the Pre-School EducationnetworkGeneralisation ofaccess to activities toenrich thecurriculumExtension to schoolsocial workPositivediscrimination forschools in difficultenvironmentsSpecial educationalneedsTo promote the reorganisation of the school network through a programme in conjunction with localauthorities. Requalification and modernisation of the 1st cycle and of pre-school population involves theconstruction of new teaching centres, by extension and repurposing of existing buildings. In addition to theconstruction work, for extension and repurposing the buildings, it also incorporates the external surroundingsof the perimeters of the establishments and also, investment in school furniture and fittings, teachingmaterials and computer equipment.This programme, the responsibility of the Ministries of Education and of Labour and Social Security, isespecially targeted at councils which show a ratio of pre-school education coverage lower than the nationalaverage. The objective of this measure is to guarantee that there is sufficient provision of pre-school trainingby the whole education network, which also suffer constraints, particularly on the periphery of the large urbancentres.To reinforce the approach previously adopted, specifically by means of a financial contribution by theMinistry of Education, in accordance with the awarding of the variable amounts as a function of the activitiesof curricular enrichment provided for students. In relation to English, to make a widening of the provision ofEnglish to pupils in the 1st and 2 nd years of education obligatory, as well as increasing the weekly duration ofEnglish teaching in the 3 rd and 4 th years of school to 135 minutes.To change the access conditions for Social School Work, seeking to increase transparency and simplify theprocess through use of family allowance scales. This change, although maintaining the nature of the support,raises the size of contributions above inflation, changing to encompass secondary school students, underconditions identical to those who attend obligatory schooling.To promote the reinsertion of pupils in schools through the definition of diversified set of measurements andactions in schools situated in difficult environments.To create a network of reference schools targeted at blind and deaf students, as well as units specialised indisorders such as of autism and multi-deficiency.Quality of learning and educational resultsIn progressIn preparationIn progressIn progressIn progressIn progressDuring the 2008/09 school year, 50new education centres have alreadybegun operating, and modification orconstruction of 600 educational centresis planned.To guarantee 100% coverage ofchildren of five years of age throughoutthe whole country. This plans for thedevelopment of 760 new classrooms inthe metropolitan areas of Lisbon andPorto.To guarantee access to curriculumenrichment activities for all 1 st Cyclepupils.During the 2008/2009 school year,encompassing 700 thousand pupils.This positive discriminationprogramme currently incorporates 36schools and groupings, and is forecastto increase to 100 groupings.137 autism units; 220 multi-deficiencyunits; 1,500 trained teachers and 760assistants with educational experiencein training; another 31% of trainers andinterpreters in Portuguese signlanguage.Financing – 407 millionEuros supported byNSFR (70% of the totalinvestment), with theremainder theresponsibility ofmunicipalities.Investment of 25 millionEuros (OE)Continuous Trainingand Action PlanProgrammeThe plan to improve the quality of learning and educational results refers to the continuation of the ActionPlan for Mathematics, the National Plan for Reading, and the Continuous Training Programmes for teachersof the 1 st cycle in Mathematics, Portuguese, Experimental Instruction of Sciences and ICT.In progress36