Portugal's Education Ministry cuts agencies in sweeping reform

In August, Education Minister Fernando Alexandre issued a decree‑law that reduced the number of entities reporting to the Ministry of Education from 18 to seven. The restructuring created the new Agency for the Management of the Education System and eliminated longstanding bodies such as the Directorate‑General of School Administration, the Institute for Financial Management of Education, and the Directorate‑General of School Equipment.

The government argues the changes will slash bureaucracy and save about €50 million, while halving the administrative workforce. Critics say the rapid reorganisation coincides with a troubled digital exam system for roughly 160 000 pupils, a shortage of about 20 000 teachers, and the risk of impairing public‑school quality. Private schools are expected to benefit from the weakened public structure, and observers warn the reform may create new problems without solving existing ones.