Hi all
Not been here for quite some time..
Schools in Portugal compared to those of `not so strict` UK or `unacceptably strict` French way.
Where in comparison does the Portuguese system lie?

Kind regards
Bob

Tough question.

Last year, my 8yo's school was a single class (years 1-4) and single teacher.
She was a lovely lady but a formidable character so you definitely wouldn't mess with her LOL
This year they've split yrs 1/2 and 3/4 into classes and have 2 new teachers so I couldn't comment yet but, on the whole the school has a very relaxed atmosphere BUT accepts NO BS. The kids respect that too. They're pretty well behaved tbh (much better than the school my boys were at before we moved last year)

my 11yo's school is a totally different scenario. Well over 100 students split into years 5-9 with between 5-7 "turmas" (classes) per year.
He says that the teachers seem quite strict but not overbearingly so. Sometimes there is messing around in class but I think it depends on the teacher and their ability to handle the class, like any class/school.
It depends how you define "strict", I think.

I don't see any real problems in his school WRT behaviour etc but it's not all regimented like you perhaps mean by "unacceptably strict"

I should add though that, when we left the UK, he had just finished yr 5 (second to last year of primary school) and started in year 6 here (second year in EB2,3 - "big" school) so it was a huge shock for him but also it means I don't have any secondary school experience (equivalent in terms of schedules/classes etc) to compare against.

Not sure if that reply was helpful in any way actually LOL

My experience is that the pre Primary and Primary system is good but the Ciclo (middle school) system fails miserably with larger classes (26,27 pupils) much non attendance by teachers, poor teaching standards by "couldn't care less" teachers and very poor discipline in the classroom.

This is a general opinion from seeing several different schools in action.

Thanks for the replies.. dosent sound too good on the whole, but isnt it the same most places in the EU... or are the Scandinavian countries far better than those in the south .
Here is a thread on French schooling..Ive have heard so many stories like this from friends, and on forums like this . http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=731956

Anyone take a guess at the level of education in Portugal compared to the rest of EU ?
Must be some online stats somewhere if one can trust those

Thanks again

Hi from France! The above shocking situation was an exception and in all my years in France this was the first time I'd heard of a Directeur/teacher acting so badly.
No problem with any of the teachers that my daughters or French OH's family came across during their 15 years from Maternelle to Lycée, and I wouldn't call French schooling "inacceptably" strict.
All things being relative....

Glad I don't live where you are/have been then!
We've not experienced non-attendance much at all (maybe 2 or 3 times in 12 months?) and my 11yo's teachers certainly COULD care less (or he wouldn't be learning anything)

Plus side, their class sizes are between 15-20, on the whole (some quite a bit smaller) so that probably has an effect on all areas including discipline and teacher morale, I suppose.

That's just my/our experience of one school, obviously

I know this is a emotional subject for people who have children at school in PT but after working in education and with children for many years in the uk and experiencing the Portuguese education system, on a whole I would say the Portuguese system is poor

I agree with biffa that pre and primary school can be fine but I have heard many a horror story, children being hit by teachers, there is also a lot of shouting by the teachers to control the children

there are hundreds of schools due to be shut in PT in the next few months and the education system will suffer massively because of the cuts, unfortunately they will merge the smaller schools and classes together

most teachers are on contracts from year to year and they never know until the last minute if they will be employed again, I wouldn't call some of them teachers but more carers.

if you are asking me if PT is a good place for your child's education I would say no

I think this could differ from School to School, my wife is an English teacher in a high school and MOST teachers are pernamment at that school but she also does have some friends(teachers) who are moving School every year! The teachers who have the short term contracts are mainly younger teachers....well under 38 ish! These teachers perhaps don't have as much motivation! saying that I know my wife has dedicated her life to her school/students but in the last couple of years even she has become less "interested" no wage rise/wage cuts/tax increases/more hours teaching/higher work load etc etc all makes for a worse education for the kids!

Unhappy teachers= poor education

On the plus side... compared to the UK, she never comes home complaining about abuse/aggression from kids... I for sure am much happier knowing my kids will be brought up in Portugal than the UK where most kids seem to be...well..err.. scum?!

My wife is a Portuguese lawyer. She recalls many fellow students not being able to hack the university course they were on dropping down a few rungs on the studying scale to become teachers!

Thus you tend not to get vocational teachers which you may get elsewhere but frustrated students opting for what they feel is an easy career.

My stepson started school this semester in 7th grade on 15th September (after a 3 month summer break!) and there are still two disciplines where he has not yet had asingle lesson due to continual teacher absences.

Probably temp. teachers as I know the likes of my wife will never have a day off even if sick... goes down bad in their evaluation at the of the year and with the professional courses... she has to give the lessons she misses back another day in her own time!

Teachers are p!$$ed off & get no public support... this for sure will affect the kids education!

and there are still two disciplines where he has not yet had asingle lesson due to continual teacher absences.

That's why when these teachers skip up to 3 days, they should be fired! especially at the beginning of the school year, it makes no sense.
They're not interested in teaching, replace them with eager, full-spirited teachers who want to make a difference in these kids' lives, who have ambition and devotion...they still exist somewhere

[QUOTE=pbelo;9650284].

That's why when these teachers skip up to 3 days, they should be fired! especially at the beginning of the school year, it makes no sense.
They're not interested in teaching, replace them with eager, full-spirited teachers who want to make a difference in these kids' lives, who have ambition and devotion...they still exist somewhere[/QUOTE]



I don't think you will find ANY teachers like that in 2011, hmm... how would you like your wages frozen for 5 year or so and now in 2011 taking a wage cut! Not to mention increased hours teaching,a farce of a evaluation scheme among other things! I know of teachers who live in the north yet teach in Lisbon.... they get no public support cause apparently they DO NOTHING & earn a fortune,... f#cking great life being a teacher eh?! Wonder why they are not "full-spirited"?!

I don't think you will find ANY teachers like that in 2011, hmm... how would you like your wages frozen for 5 year or so and now in 2011 taking a wage cut! Not to mention increased hours teaching,a farce of a evaluation scheme among other things! I know of teachers who live in the north yet teach in Lisbon.... they get no public support cause apparently they DO NOTHING & earn a fortune,... f#cking great life being a teacher eh?! Wonder why they are not "full-spirited"?![/QUOTE]

Its not just teachers that the above is happening to, a lot of people are in the same boat or don't even have a job