Educational policy and management challenges in Brazil and|s

Educational systems in Brazil and Portugal are navigating various structural and administrative challenges. In Brazil, research indicates that student engagement and a sense of belonging are critical for retention, with data showing a decline in students feeling welcomed as they progress from 6th to 9th grade. Meanwhile, Portugal has faced a school placement crisis, leading the Ministry of Education to expand class sizes to 30 students in certain regions to address vacancy shortages, a move that has drawn warnings from educators regarding the ‘invisible impact’ on student-teacher relationships.

In Brazil, the focus has shifted toward administrative and assessment reforms. In Epitaciolândia, debates have emerged regarding a proposal to allow school managers to serve up to three consecutive terms based on performance criteria like IDEB scores. Additionally, in the Distrito Federal, lawmakers and teachers have questioned the sudden advancement of high school assessments under the High School Learning Monitoring Plan (Paaem), citing concerns that the mid-semester changes disrupt pedagogical planning and student learning.