The Education System in Portugal is regulated by the state through the Ministry of Education and Science. The public education system is the most widely used and implemented, there are also private schools at all education levels.
In Portugal education is compulsory for all students begins at 6 years of age (may begin to 5 years if the student makes 6 years in the incoming year). Compulsory education ends when the student turns 18 (12th grade).
Each school year is divided into three periods:
1st Period - Begining - around September 10; End - around December 14
Period 2 - Begining - around January 3; End - two weeks before Easter
3rd Period - Begining - Tuesday after Easter; End - between the beginning and the end of June
Basic Education is divided into three cycles:
1st cycle (1º to 4º years);
2nd cycle (5º and 6º year);
3rd cycle (7º to 9º years).
The next cycle is called Secondary Education - covers 10, 11 and 12 years and has its own system of organization, different from other cycles. The change cycle can in many cases be marked by changing schools.
Portuguese Universities have existed since 1290, the first being the University of Coimbra, which, however, first established itself in Lisbon before permanently fix in Coimbra. Universities are usually organized at colleges, institutes and schools. The Bologna Declaration was adopted since 2006 by Portuguese universities and polytechnics. In universities, evaluations are made on a scale of 1 to 20. Most courses have a duration of three years, which amounts to six semesters, and at the end of this period (and after final exams), takes place the final average of the student.
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