Viana do Castelo approves nearly 1 million euros for school support

The Viana do Castelo municipal executive has unanimously approved a budget of approximately 1 million euros to support students for the 2026/2027 academic year. The funding focuses on two primary areas: the School Transport Plan and School Social Action economic aid.

The School Transport Plan, estimated at 679,085 euros, aims to assist approximately 370 students living in isolated or dispersed areas where public transport wait times exceed 45 minutes or travel times exceed 60 minutes per trip. The plan also covers students with mobility difficulties and those displaced by school closures. This initiative was developed in collaboration with school clusters, transport operators, and parish councils to promote sustainable mobility.

Regarding economic aid for primary and pre-school education, the municipality will allocate 14,000 euros for didactic materials and 197,000 euros for meal subsidies. These subsidies target approximately 1,000 students in Social Security categories A and B, providing a 25% reduction for households with two students and a 50% reduction for families with three or more. These measures are intended to prevent social exclusion and school dropout while ensuring equal educational opportunities.