Just another day in school!

The schooling here is some what different then other places. The school year runs from the middle of September to the end of June, for compulsory schooling, or to the middle of June for secondary schools. Individual schools set the actual dates but there must be at least 180 school days in each year.Basic compulsory education (Ensino Básico) lasts for nine years and is divided into three consecutive cycles, EB-1º, EB-2º and EB-3º.The first cycle of education (EB-1º) is provided by primary schools (escolas básicas), while the second and third cycles are provided by secondary schools (escolas secundárias). These three cycles are collectively referred to as Basic Education. (Ensino Básico)

• First cycle (EB-1º): lasts four years, for pupils aged six to ten
• Second cycle (EB-2º): lasts two years, for pupils from ten to twelve
• Third cycle (EB-3º): lasts three years, for pupils from twelve to fifteen

After successfully completing their compulsory nine years of education children aged fourteen to fifteen may decide to continue secondary education, either as preparation for higher education or for more vocational/technical education. Secondary education is not free; students must pay for enrolment and tuition as well as for their textbooks and other materials, although financial assistance may be available.

The higher education system consists of public universities (universidades), polytechnics (escolas politécnicas), and a number of private or cooperative institutions of higher education.

Students who have successfully completed the three years of secondary education and have a secondary school diploma, or legally equivalent qualification, may apply. Depending on what type of higher educational establishment they apply to, students may also have to pass either a national examination organised by the Directorate-General of Higher Education (Direcção – Geral do Ensino Superior), or an entry examination set by the institution.

Graduate qualifications may be a bachelor degree (bacharelado), which requires three years of study, or licentiate (licenciatura) degree, needing four to six years.