Portugal's PS chief calls for parliamentary inquiry into education chaos and student placement failures

At a meeting with industry representatives in Matosinhos, José Luís Carneiro said the Socialist Party will seek a parliamentary commission to probe the education sector after reports that hundreds of children are starting the school year without a place. He explained that the government’s removal of several Ministry of Education bodies, notably the Direção-Geral dos Estabelecimentos Escolares, has left schools without the support needed for student placement.

Carneiro recalled a previous minister’s error that disrupted national university entrance exams, adding that one outlet crisis is unprecedented for public schools. He criticized the lack of planning that forced the Education Minister, Fernando Alexandre, to call an emergency meeting of school principals, arguing solutions should have been prepared months earlier. The PS leader called for accountability, stating the minister bears responsibility and the prime minister is ultimately answerable. He warned that private companies now handling former public functions have contributed to the failures.