Extinction of organizations: FNE expresses “surprise” and requests an urgent meeting with the Minister of Education

The National Education Federation (FNE) expresses "surprise" regarding the reform announced by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation (MECI), which it only learned about through the media, and requests an "urgent" meeting with the ministry to discuss the matter. The measures unveiled Thursday by Minister Fernando Alexandre include the elimination of several education and science organizations (including the Foundation for Science and Technology – FCT), as well as changes to the territorial scope of the Regional Coordination and Development Commissions (CCDR).

"The FNE considers it a priority to present, as quickly as possible, the rationale and objectives of these decisions, as well as the plan for their implementation. Only then will it be possible to assess the consequences for the education system, for teachers, researchers and other professionals covered,” the union structure said in a statement.

In addition to the content of the measures themselves, the FNE says it is surprised by "the timing of their announcement," at a time when the education sector faces "multiple challenges, from the lack of teachers to preparing for the next school year," reasons that reinforce "the need for clarification and dialogue regarding the objectives and impacts of this decision.

The union structure recognizes the "relevance of possible administrative reorganization processes, but also argues that it is "indispensable to obtain concrete clarifications on the effective impact of each of the measures announced, before taking any definitive position."

The FNE wants the reform carried out with "transparency" and emphasizes that any process of extinction or restructuring of organizations in the area of education and science must involve trade unions, in order to guarantee the defense of workers and the continuity of essential functions of the system."

He adds that it is "critical that the Ministry of Education and Culture (MECI) clarify how the programs, competitions, and support currently dependent on the FCT and the remaining organizations to be dissolved will be ensured, avoiding disruptions that could compromise schools, projects, and careers." While acknowledging that the FCT "faced deep and long-standing problems," he also argues that "its extinction alone does not automatically resolve these difficulties."

"It is imperative that the Ministry of Education (MECI) present a robust plan that ensures the continuity of the FCT's essential functions, namely in the funding of science and research, and that values the careers of the researchers and teachers involved," the union maintains, also warning about the implications of the changes to the CCDR: "It is necessary to ensure that these changes do not result in an indirect transfer of responsibilities, a 'centralization', which could further distance the management of schools from local realities and the professionals who work there."