National exam season in Portugal, with strikes and minimum services decreed
September 13, 2023
Original Article: https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/epoca-de-exames-nacionais-arranca-hoje-com-greves-e-servicos-minimos-decretados-16553097.html
The season for national secondary education exams begins this Monday with the 12th year Portuguese test, with teachers' unions calling strikes for students' final assessments, subject to minimum services by decision of the arbitration court.
In addition to the national Portuguese exam for the 12th year, the Mandarin and Italian exams for the 11th year and the final test for Portuguese as a Non-Mother Language for 9th year students are also scheduled for today.
At the end of May, the union platform that brings together nine structures representing teachers, including the two federations -- FNE and Fenprof -- announced the scheduling of strikes for national exams and final assessments, and on the same day the Ministry of Education reacted to the announcement with another: the request for minimum services.
The strike is part of the continuity of the teaching struggle for the recovery of the still frozen service period, which is currently six years, six months and 23 days.