Abstract:

This paper aims to highlight the uniqueness of the mass schooling process in Portugal, marked by a very late start and a rapid expansion since the last quarter of XX century, reinforced by the European agenda of the last decades (Education and training 2010 , 20020). It aims, also to identify the challenges that the country faced in the field of equity in education. This work is based on the analysis of legislation associated with compulsory schooling and in national and international statistics related with the evolution of success of Portuguese students in national exams and PISA. The analysis of these results took into account several sociodemographic variables (family background, region, social support). The study shows that the universalization of basic education took place in Portugal at the end of the 20th century, but currently there is a growing convergence with reference standards set for European space of education and training (preschool rates , literacy levels, early school leaving, lifelong learning). The recent economic and financial crisis in the country has caused an inversion in the very positive tendencies verified in the country regarding education, but , in the last years the progressive tendencies were renewed and we are experiencing a quick move to the goals of Education and Training 2020 agenda and having a relevant growth of Portuguese results in PISA. Equity and school success problems still remain , with strong links with social and regional inequalities, in spite of the existence of some governmental programs to overcome these issues.

Keywords:

Mass schooling, equity, european agenda.