We are hybrid education students in Portugal.
We follow the Cambridge International Curriculum, that has been recognized as equivalent to the Portuguese Secondary Education for 18 years. We take the same exams that other students in Portugal take.
But unlike students that follow the Portuguese Secondary Education, we are banned from entering higher education in Portugal.
Please sign our petition to stop this discrimination.
(Read the full text of the petition at the bottom of this page)
SIGN THE PETITION:
Ao assinar esta petição confirmo que li e compreendi o conteúdo da mesma, e que autorizo a utilização dos dados fornecidos para os fins nela definidos.
"We can't allow needless burocracy to impact children's right to a higher education."
Francisco
"It is time to acknowledge that education is evolving, offering diverse approaches while striving toward the same ultimate goal."
Joana
"Está na hora da educação mudar, e não podemos descriminar jovens baseados em ideias do passado."
Luis
"Porque acho que está na hora de o ensino se actualizar e se adaptar a crianças diferentes. O essencial é mesmo a felicidade e realização da criança. Faze lá sentir se válida e amparada. "
Ana
"É discriminatório e uma vergonha em 2024 que jovens com excelentes resultados (...) sejam obrigados a imigrar quando muitos gostavam de ficar em Portugal."
Barbara
"I would like to see some justice for the students, if they have the effort they should have the chance "
Claudia
"Apoio esta petição porque é uma injustiça os jovens não poderem entrar na faculdade só porque escolheram outro método de ensino."
Vitor
"É uma situação de grave injustiça, que deve ser reparada com urgência!"
Guilherme
OUR GOAL: CREATE EQUALITY IN THE PORTUGUESE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM
- Move forward with the legislation for hybrid education to regularize an option that meets the needs of a growing number of students and their families.
- End the absolute discrimination by recognizing the academic performance of teenagers in line with their peers.
PETITION TEXT:
Dear President of the Assembly of the Republic,
The undersigned address Your Excellency to:
• Request the official recognition of the academic path of the Brave Generation Academy (BGA) students who follow the Cambridge International Curriculum;
• Request the creation of a legal framework for online and hybrid education in Portugal.
This request is based on:
• The principle of equity and the right to equal access to higher education;
• The current educational context and the emerging needs for flexible and innovative educational options.
Objectives
- Academic Recognition: Ensure that the academic path of BGA students is equivalent to the levels of the Portuguese education system, in accordance with Annex VIII of Decree No. 224/2006 of March 8. This equivalency will allow diplomas such as IGCSE and A-Levels to be recognized at the levels of the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th years of schooling.
- Higher Education Application: Ensure that, starting from the 2025-2026 National Higher Education Access Contest, BGA students can apply on equal terms with students from accredited Portuguese schools and other EU member states.
- Legislation of Online and Hybrid Education: Establish a formal commitment to legislate online and hybrid education in Portugal, adjusting the legal framework to the reality of new educational models.
Justification
Currently, BGA students face absolute discrimination in relation to their peers from accredited Portuguese schools and other European schools that also follow the Cambridge International Curriculum, which has been recognized in Portugal for over 18 years. The Cambridge International Curriculum exams are created, supervised, and graded worldwide by independent entities such as Pearson and Cambridge, ensuring credibility and equity in the academic paths and performance of students.
In Portugal, more than 40 schools follow this curriculum, and their students have their academic paths and performances officially recognized by the Portuguese education system, enjoying the same rights granted to students from traditional schools. BGA, by adopting a hybrid teaching model (online and in-person) that meets the needs of many students, is not recognized as an accredited school by national standards due to the lack of specific legislation for online/hybrid education—although this has been legally foreseen since 2018 (Decree-Law No. 55/2018 of July 6 and Order No. 359/2019 of October 8).
This gap results in the non-recognition of the academic path of its students, who are formally considered to be in "school abandonment" status and are prevented from continuing their studies in Portugal, both at the secondary and higher education levels, should they wish to. This situation sharply contrasts with the rights of students following the same curriculum in accredited schools in Portugal (by adhering to the traditional physical model, naturally legislated) or in other countries.
This absurd violation of the principle of equal opportunities is acknowledged by the Portuguese State, which, aware of the lack of regulation for the online/hybrid educational model and BGA's ambition to obtain accreditation since its launch more than three years ago, has not intervened with the families of students, who were legally classified as being in "school abandonment" due to the lack of enrollment in accredited schools. If this situation persists, the harm to the lives of students and their families will be substantial.
Supporting Facts
- Cases filed with the National Commission for the Promotion of Children and Young People's Rights and Protection (CPCJ): About 200 cases of BGA students considered to be in "school drop-out" were referred to the CPCJ, which, after investigation, archived 99% of these cases, concluding that the students were indeed studying, albeit outside an accredited school. In the remaining 1% of cases, the courts confirmed the absence of evidence of school abandonment and recommended that the State find a solution for these students. These cases demonstrate that the very state and judicial bodies recognize BGA as a "de facto" educational option.
Conclusion and Call to Action
The signatories of this petition request that the Portuguese Government:
- Implement a transitional solution and formal academic equivalency for BGA students, guaranteeing them the completion of their educational path and full integration into Portuguese society;
- Establish a legislative framework for online and hybrid education, promoting regulation that adapts to flexible and innovative teaching models, ensuring equal opportunities for all students.
We call on all citizens who value educational equity and the right to freedom of choice to support this petition, signing in defense of the right to equal access to higher education, as well as the modernization and plurality of educational options in Portugal.