In 2026, the 40th anniversary of the approval of the Basic Law of the Education System (LBSE – Law No. 46/86 of 14 October) will be marked, a decisive milestone in the democratisation of education in Portugal and in the affirmation of public schooling as a pillar of the democratic regime.
To commemorate this anniversary, the seminar “40 Years of the Basic Law of the Education System: Between Legacy and Future Perspectives” will take place during October, according to the following schedule and venues:
Lisbon (14th and 15th of October) – More information here.
Funchal (19th of October)
Évora (29th of October) – More information here.
Porto (30th of October) – More information here.
Spread across four cities – Lisbon, Funchal, Évora and Porto – the initiative combines conferences, thematic panels, scientific communications and public debate sessions. Its purpose is to promote critical reflection on the forty years of the Basic Law of the Education System, to analyse the impact of the educational policies developed since 1986, and to discuss the contemporary challenges facing Portuguese education.
The seminar aims to highlight the role of education in democratic construction, to strengthen the articulation between research, public policy and educational practice, and to involve different regions of the country in a decentralised dynamic of public debate. Among the main axes under discussion are democracy, citizenship and education; equity and the organisation of the education system; issues of curriculum, knowledge and assessment; inclusion and educational justice; the teaching profession; governance and autonomy; and the relationships between education, digitalisation and democracy.
This initiative is organised by CeiED – the Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Education and Development (Lusófona University), by CIE‑UMa – the Research Centre for Education at the University of Madeira (University of Madeira), and by CIEP – the Research Centre for Education and Psychology (University of Évora), with the support of the Portuguese Society of Educational Sciences, the Portuguese Association for the History of Education, the Portuguese Forum for Educational Administration, Pró‑Inclusão – the National Association of Special Education Teachers, and the Portuguese Sociological Association.
In this context, the University of Madeira will host, on 19th of October 2026, at the Colégio dos Jesuítas, the session dedicated to the themes “Geographies of possibility: autonomy, regionalisation and European integration in the Autonomous Region of Madeira” and “Recognising those who educate: professional status, training and the educational community”.
PROVISIONAL PROGRAM – FUNCHAL SESSION
| Time | Activity | Speaker |
| 09:00 | Registry | |
| 09:30 | Opening Session | |
| 10:00 | Conference I: 40 Anos de LBSE: Autonomia, regionalização e integração europeia Chair: Nuno Fraga | Liliana Rodrigues |
| 10:45 | Debate | |
| 11:00 | Break | |
| 11:15 | Conference II: A Escola a Tempo Inteiro na RAM Chair: Sofia Silva | Francisco Santos |
| 12:00 | Debate | |
| 12:15 | Lunch | |
| 14:00 | Conference III: A perspetiva da Autonomia e a justificação da regionalização da Educação Chair: Gorete Pereira | Alberto João Jardim |
| 14:45 | Debate | |
| 15:00 | Round table: Futuros Possíveis para a Educação na RAM – Parte 1 Chair: Fernanda Gouveia | Nadina Mota (Organização dos ciclos e percursos; Educação dos 0-3 anos; Articulação entre níveis de ensino) Maria José Camacho (Inclusão e diversidade) Nuno Fraga (Territorialização das políticas educativas) Elsa Fernandes (Política Educativa Regional, presente e futuro, que desafios?) |
| 16:00 | Debate | |
| 16:15 | Break | |
| 16:30 | Round Table: Futuros Possíveis para a Educação na RAM – Parte 2 Chair: Ana Kot-Kotecki | Sara Estudante Relvas (Educação e Formação Profissional) Elsa Freitas (Formação Contínua de Professores) Carlos Gonçalves (Educação Artística) Elmano Santos (Desporto Escolar e Atividade Física) |
| 17:30 | Debate | |
| 17:45 | Closing session | |
| 18:00 | Madeira de Honra (to be confirmed) |
Registrations
Participation is free of charge, subject to prior registration. To complete your registration, please click here.
Organising Comittee
Gorete Pereira (CeiED – Polo Madeira e CIE-UMa)
Liliana Rodrigues (CeiED – Polo Madeira, CIE-UMa, CEIS20)
Nuno Fraga (CeiED – Polo Madeira e CIE-UMa)
Sofia Silva (CeiED – Polo Madeira e CIE-UMa)
Ana Kot Kotecki (CIE-UMa)