EDUCATIO

N SYSTEM
in Portugal

EDUCATION SYSTEM

EDUCATION SYSTEM

EDUCATION SYSTEM
Since 1990

Portugal has been

improving the
conditions for pupil
with Special
Education Needs
(SEN) to:
access mainstream
education;
benefit from quality
learning

EDUCATION SYSTEM
Inclusive school basic principles:
based on equity and social justice in
opposition to traditional model that leads to
segregation and discrimination.
Weaknesses:
availability of specialized human resources;
specific tools;
changes in school organization;
changes in pedagogical practice;
concept of SEN;
evaluation process

EDUCATION SYSTEM

Decree-Law 3/2008:
Pupils covered by SEN were restricted to those
with permanent needs;
Redirection of available specialized resources;
Special schools take the role of resource centers
for mainstreaming;
Resource centers provided specialized support
through partnership with mainstream schools;
Resource centers established as supporting
structure for the inclusion of pupils with SEN

EDUCATION SYSTEM
Pupils in Special Education Schools

require specialized and differentiated

support with significant adjustments
to educational and teaching or
learning process that are clearly
inaccessible in mainstream
education

EDUCATION SYSTEM

Specialized support given to pupils with SEN:

Personalized pedagogical support;
Individual curriculum adjustment;
Adjustment to the enrolment process;
Adjustment to the assessment process;
Individual specific curriculum;
Support technology

EDUCATION SYSTEM

Goals of special education:

Education and social inclusion;
Educational access and success;
Promotion of equal opportunities;
Preparation for post-school or professional life
Teachers from the special education
recruitment group, with specialized training
in specific areas, are placed in schools to
promote support activities for students with
permanent SEN

EDUCATION SYSTEM

Specific Types of Education for:

Blind/ partially sighted
Deaf
Multiple disabilities
Autism
Special units for bilingual education of deaf
pupils
Special units for blind and partially sighted pupils
Structured teaching units for pupils with autism
Specialized support units for pupils with multiple
disabilities

EDUCATION SYSTEM

Specialized support units are created whenever

the number of pupils in a school or adjacent school
justify their presence
Local authorities provides school transport
The number of pupils supported in each unit
should not exceed six

EDUCATION SYSTEM

Regular Classes
Attend classes with their
colleagues

Students with SEN

(Units)

Units

Functional activities
Cognitive development
activities
Academic
reinforcement

THANK
YOU