The news in Portuguese

O relatório de 2023 sobre a educação em Portugal mostra um aumento de alunos estrangeiros, principalmente do Brasil, com desafios em inclusão e igualdade de acesso. O estudo destaca níveis altos de repetência e abandono escolar entre alunos imigrantes. Alerta para a necessidade de melhor formação de professores e métodos inovadores de ensino.

Translation

The 2023 report on education in Portugal reveals an increase in foreign students, predominantly from Brazil, facing challenges in inclusion and equal access. The study highlights high levels of grade repetition and school dropout among immigrant students. It calls attention to the need for better teacher training and innovative teaching methods.

Exercise: Text comprehension

Question 1: What are the two main challenges faced by foreign students in Portuguese schools according to the 2023 report?

High levels of repeating grades and school dropout rates.

Question 2: Which country's students are mentioned as the main source of foreign students in Portugal?

Brazil.

Exercise: Vocabulary

(m.) - report

(f.) - inclusion

(f.) - repeating a year

(m.) - abandonment

(f.) - necessity

- innovative

Read the full story

▌08/01/2025

The recently released State of Education 2023 report highlights the evolving demographics in Portuguese schools, with a significant rise in foreign students creating both opportunities and challenges across the educational landscape. According to the data, foreign nationals made up over 11.3% of students in the 2022/23 academic year, with the majority being from Brazil. This demographic shift demands focused efforts on inclusion and equitable access to education.

A particular concern is the high retention and dropout rates among students from immigrant families. This situation underscores the need for effective measures of inclusion and positive discrimination, as stated in the report. The question remains whether the discipline of Portuguese as a Non-Native Language (PLNM) adequately addresses the needs of these students, as nearly 14,000 are enrolled in PLNM courses, yet more than 55,000 non-Brazilian foreign students were attending schools in the same period, many with limited Portuguese proficiency.

Increase in Foreign Students Challenges Portuguese Schools Increase in Foreign Students Challenges Portuguese Schools (Illustration)

Geographical analysis shows a higher concentration of foreign students in the Algarve, while in regions like Greater Lisbon and the Setúbal Peninsula, they account for approximately 16.6% and 15%, respectively. Concurrently, figures indicate an increase in retention rates among middle school students over recent years, though lower primary levels have remained steady post-pandemic.

While Portugal has made strides in educational attainment, producing over 95,000 graduates in the past academic year—a 6.7% jump from the previous year—there remains an urgent call for innovative teaching methods and enhanced teacher training. The report by Domingos Fernandes, president of the National Council of Education, points out "significant deficiencies" in core skills such as mathematics and writing among younger students, urging a targeted enhancement of education quality from early stages.

In conclusion, the report calls for increased investment in teacher training, better pedagogical practices, and strategic measures to address inequality, especially focusing on students born abroad or those from diverse regional backgrounds. The rising number of foreign students presents a critical area for policy intervention to ensure that all students can thrive in the Portuguese education system.

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Advanced: Reports from Portugal