Seminary 40 Years of the Basic Law on the Education System
Between Legacy and Possible Futures
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
Promoted by CeiED - Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Education and Development, of Lusófona University, by CIE-UMa - Centre for Research in Education, University of Madeira, and by CIEP - Centre for Research in Education and Psychology, University of Évora, the seminar marks four decades since the approval of the legislation that structured the democratisation of education and consolidated the development of the democratic public school.
The initiative, which has the high patronage of His Excellency the President of the Republic, aims to bring together researchers, students, policymakers, educational leaders and representatives of civil society for a plural debate on the development and future of education in Portugal.
The seminar will feature some of the most renowned figures in the Portuguese educational field, alongside many other academics, education professionals and political leaders.
The initiative is supported by the Portuguese Society of Educational Sciences, the Portuguese Association for the History of Education, the Portuguese Forum for Educational Administration, Pró-Inclusão — National Association of Special Education Teachers and the Portuguese Sociological Association.
Registration
Participation requires prior registration via an online form.
Programme
Seminar
40 years of the Basic Law on the Education System. Between the legacy and possible futures
Seminar in Lisbon
Lusófona University - Lisbon University Centre
Auditório Agostinho da Silva
14 October 2026
Musical performance
Orquestra Geração
Opening Session
António Teodoro, Director of CeiED, Lusófona University
Amélia Lopes, President of SPCE
José de Bragança Miranda, Rector of Lusófona University
Presidency of the Republic – to be confirmed
Tribute to the Members of Parliament who participated in the Subcommittee that drafted the Basic Law
Appointed by the Education, Science and Culture Committee of the Assembly of the Republic (1985-1987 legislative term)
Conference: Process and outcomes of the drafting of the 1986 Basic Law on the Education System
Bártolo Paiva Campos, Emeritus Full Professor at the University of Porto, rapporteur of the Assembly of the Republic subcommittee that prepared the Basic Law on the Education System
Panel I – Weaving the common: the democratic promise of education
Isabel Menezes, Full Professor at the University of Porto
David Rodrigues, University of Lisbon and Lusófona University. Member of the National Education Council
Maria João Cardona, Coordinating Professor at the Polytechnic Institute of Santarém
Communications
15 October 2026
Panel II – Pathways without walls: continuity and justice in compulsory education
Nuno Mantas, Headteacher of Agrupamento de Escolas da Boa Água
Jesus Maria Vaz Fernandes, Full Professor at the University of Madeira, member of the National Education Council
Manuela Mendonça, National Federation of Teachers
Panel III – The Whole University: diversity, mission and future
Alexandra Teodósio, Rector of the University of Algarve
Manuel José Damásio, Full Professor, Lusófona University
Paulo Pereira, Rector of NOVA University Lisbon
Ricardo Vieira, Full Professor, University of Leiria and Oeste
Closing Session
Seminar in Funchal
19 October 2026
Opening Session
Conference 1: 40 Years of LBSE: Autonomy, regionalisation and European integration
Chair: Nuno Fraga
Speaker: Liliana Rodrigues
Debate
Conference 2: The full-time school in R.A.M.
Chair: Sofia Silva
Speaker: Francisco Santos
Debate
Conference 3: The perspective of autonomy and the rationale for the regionalisation of education
Chair: Gorete Pereira
Speaker: Alberto João Jardim
Debate
Round table: Possible futures for education in R.A.M., part 1
Chair: Fernanda Gouveia
Speakers: Nadina Mota, Maria José Camacho, Nuno Fraga, Elsa Fernandes
Debate
Round table: Possible futures for education in R.A.M., part 2
Chair: Ana Kot Kotecki
Speakers: Sara Estudante Relvas, Elsa Freitas, Carlos Gonçalves, Elmano Santos
Debate
Closing Session
Madeira de Honra
Seminar in Évora
29 October 2026
Opening Panel
Cristina Barrocas Dias
Carlos Zorrinho
Ricardo Pinheiro
Andreia Dionísio
Luís Sebastião
Opening Conference: What is the purpose of a Basic Law?
Eduardo Marçal Grilo
Round Table I: The memory of the curriculum
José Verdasca
José Bravo Nico
Ana Paula Canavarro
Maria Assunção Folque
Round Table II: Curriculum challenges
Isabel Leite
João Couvaneiro
Carlinda Leite
José A. Pacheco
Closing Session
Luís Sebastião
Elsa Estrela
Seminar in Porto
Lusófona University - Porto University Centre
30 October 2026
Panel VI – From School to Work: knowledge, qualifications and social justice
Joaquim Azevedo
José Manuel Castro
Filomena Parada
Panel VII – Architectures of Education: governance, autonomy and regulation of the system
Licínio Lima
Rui Trindade
Closing Session
The event will conclude with the presentation and discussion of the conclusions of the decentralised seminars held in Lisbon, Funchal, Évora and Porto, by Elsa Estrela (Lusófona University / CeiED), with the institutional participation of the Education Councillor of Porto City Council (to be confirmed).
