Portugal Education Minister Fernando Alexandre Defends Digital Exam Corrections

Education Minister Fernando Alexandre told parliament that most of the problems reported in the nationwide digital exam‑correction process are false and that the system will continue without harming any student. He said the logistics of exam distribution and digitisation proceeded without major issues, acknowledging only isolated technical glitches such as papers being stapled over QR codes and occasional errors in the convocation of teachers, including a case where a deceased teacher was mistakenly called.

Alexandre stressed that any anomalies are quickly corrected and placed responsibility for mis‑convocations on school directors. He reaffirmed confidence from the Institute of Education, Quality and Assessment (EduQA) and the National Exam Jury that the digital model will be maintained and noted a pilot project for normalising grades next academic year to address difficulty variations.

The minister’s comments came after criticism from teacher unions and opposition lawmakers who described a “generalised chaos” in the exam correction process.