National presentation of the 2019 edition of the Participatory Budget for Schools

12.02.2019
  • A weather station in the school;
  • Luminous bells to accompany the entrance and exit of classes;
  • School radios entertaining and informing students during breaks.

These are some of the thousands ideas that the students presented in two previous editions of the Participatory School Budget (OPE).

The Participatory School Budget is an unprecedented initiative in Portugal, in which students are challenged to have ideas, campaign with their peers and vote, by the time of Student Day, in what they consider to be the proposal that can most contribute to improving the school where they study.

With this initiative, the Ministry of Education (ME) encourages civic participation and decision-making of students, fosters a better understanding of the functioning of democratic institutions and voting systems, as well as stimulates critical thinking and debate, without forgetting the promotion of financial literacy.

Within the scope of OPE, which covers more than half a million students, the ME once again transfers an extra 1 euro per student to each public school, with 3rd cycle and/or secondary school students (500€ being the minimum amount). By the end of the month, students from all over the country will tell their classmates what they would like to do or have in their school and try to convince them that they have the best idea.

The national presentation of the 2019 edition of the Participatory School Budget will take place in Faro, at Tomás Cabreira Secondary School, this Wednesday, 13 February, World Radio Day. Coincidentally, in recent editions, the creation of school radio stations has been one of the proposals most often presented by students, and so often a winner.