The Portuguese Educational System II - Private

Within the scope of their educational project, private and cooperative schools enjoy pedagogical, administrative, and financial autonomy.

Pedagogical autonomy consists of the recognized right of schools to make decisions in the fields of pedagogical organization and functioning, namely training provision, curriculum management, educational programs and activities, assessment, guidance and monitoring of students, the formation of classes, management of school spaces and times and the management of teaching staff.

The pedagogical autonomy recognized for private and cooperative schools includes, in terms and limits set out in these Bylaws and in contracts signed with the State, represented by the Ministry of Education (https://www.portugal.gov.pt/pt/gc21/area-de-governo/educacao), the competence to decide on the following aspects:

Approval of own educational project and internal regulations;
Internal organization, namely at the level of the management and management bodies pedagogical, without prejudice to the mandatory rules provided for in this Statute;
Pedagogical organization and functioning, regarding the curricular project, plans of study and program content;
Knowledge assessment, respecting the rules defined at the national level regarding external evaluation and final evaluation of courses, degrees, levels and modalities education, teaching and training;
Methodological guidance and adoption of school instruments;
Registration, issuance of diplomas and certificates of registration, achievement, and qualifications.

Within the scope of the respective autonomy, and without prejudice to the full fulfillment of the loads total classes defined by law for each year, cycle, level, and modality of education and training, private and cooperative schools are allowed, under conditions identical to public schools with an autonomy contract, flexible curriculum management, under the terms to be fixed in an ordinance of the Government member responsible for the education.

Private education dependent on the State is considered to be education provided by an institution where more than 50% of its regular operating funds come from state bodies / public administration (at any level) or whose teaching staff is paid for by a government agency – either directly or through the direct administration, with “Regular operating funds” being the funds for basic educational services of educational institutions, not including funds specifically earmarked for research projects, payments for services provided or contracted by private organizations, or fees/fees and subsidies received for auxiliary services provided, such as the provision of accommodation and food.

On the other hand, independent private education is considered to be education provided by an institution where less than 50% of its regular operating funds come from state bodies / public administration (at any level).

As a general rule, private schools dominate the annual ranking of the best educational institutions education, assessed by the results of national examinations. The good performance of Private school students initially reflects the quality education of these institutions. As with everything in life, quality pays well, and in teaching, it is no exception.

The monthly fee is the big variable that causes prices to increase as the student moves to the next school grade. The remaining fixed expenses, such as registration or transport, are the same for any year. We leave the indicative values so you can do the math.

Common fixed expenses:

Registration: 300 €

School insurance: 50 €

Transportation (round trip): 100 €

Meals (1 meal and 1 snack): 100 €

Tuition (10 installments):

1st Cycle of Basic Education (1st to 4th year): 450 € / month = 4500 € per year
2nd Cycle of Basic Education (5th and 6th year): 460 € / month = 4600 € per year
3rd Cycle of Basic Education (7th to 9th grade): € 470 / month = € 4700 per year
Secondary Education (10th to 12th grade): € 495 / month = € 4950 per year

In addition to these expenses, you should also consider other expenses such as books (up to € 300 depending on the year), extended hours, extra activities curricula (each modality costs on average € 50 / month), uniforms, student card, monthly fee to support reprography and other school activities (70 €) and membership fees parent association.

All in all, keeping a child studying in private schools can cost, on average, between € 5500 and € 6000 per year, depending on the year you are enrolled. Multiply these values for 12 years of compulsory education will spend between 66 thousand euros and 72 thousand euros.

Some examples of private education:

CLIB (https://clib.pt/) – The pre-school education curriculum, as well as those for the first and second cycles, are based on the British curriculum, with some adjustments, due to the diversity of students’ nationalities. From the age of 14, students are prepared for international IGCSE exams and AICE diploma (exam levels: AS and A2). THE language used in all classes (except in Portuguese, Portuguese History and Culture) is English, so the promotion of its fluent ,and correct use is essential.
German College (https://www.dsporto.de/pt-pt/a-nossa-escola/) – German College is an intercultural meeting college, which is part of a network of 140 German schools in the foreign. It provides a complete education of students, which allows them to continue their studies in Germany, Portugal, or any other country. After 12 years of schooling, students – most of whom are Portuguese – finish the College with “Deutsche Reifeprüfung”, equivalent to the “12th year”, which allow access to German and Portuguese universities.
Islamic School of Palmela (https://cip.edu.pt/en/) – This is an open project that materializes in other projects where they believe the prevalence in the quality of the Language is essential portuguese, in logical and mathematical reasoning. Also, coupled with the growing concept of globalization, understand that it is a great need for students to move to an international level school, where the curriculum provides our community tools that allow them to adapt to all circumstances, both at the national level internationally.

Taking into account the specific characteristics of their community, they also deserve special attention to the transmission of Islamic values as well as the teaching of the Arabian language.