General secondary education (Ensino Secundário Geral) covers Grades 10 to 12, typically for students aged 15 to 17 who have completed nine years of basic education.
Purpose
General secondary education deepens the scientific, humanistic and cultural formation begun in basic education and prepares students either to continue to higher education or to enter working life as informed citizens. Instruction is delivered primarily in Portuguese, with continued development of both official languages.
Programme of Study
The secondary curriculum combines a general component , languages, mathematics, and citizenship , with specialised streams in the sciences and technologies and in the social sciences and humanities. With support from UNESCO and other partners, the Ministry has developed national textbooks, student workbooks and teacher guides to strengthen mathematics and science teaching nationwide.
National Examinations
Students sit national examinations at the end of Grade 12. Examination calendars and instructions are issued by the Ministry each year and disseminated to school leaders in every municipality , see the Announcements section for the latest information.
Beyond the Classroom
Secondary students are encouraged to take part in academic competitions and olympiads, school sport, chess, and extracurricular programmes that develop talent and leadership. Oversight of general secondary education rests with the Secretary of State for General Secondary and Technical-Vocational Education and the National Directorate for General Secondary Education.