Portuguese Communist Party proposes free school supplies and meals

The Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) is set to submit a resolution project to the Assembly of the Republic proposing free meals, workbooks, and mandatory school supplies for all students up to the 12th grade.

In addition to these measures, the party is calling for the creation of a public nursery network integrated into the educational system. The proposal aims to fill a shortage of 100,000 nursery places over the next four years and expand the pre-school network by adding at least 150 new classrooms and approximately 3,000 places in the upcoming school year.

Margarida Botelho, a member of the PCP Political Commission, stated that the investment required for the nursery network—estimated at 2 billion euros—could be covered by reversing the recent corporate income tax (IRC) reduction from 21% to 20%. She criticized other political parties for choosing tax benefits for large companies over educational investments.