The Infanta D. Maria High School in Coimbra this Sunday ensured that no student will be excluded from any study trip and that fundraising events are held to include all students.
The Lusa agency reported on Saturday the existence of schools, including those in Coimbra, as well as institutions in Lisbon, Azeitan and Castaneira do Ribatejo, despite the fact that they identified only Infanta D. Maria, who for several years occupied the first place in the annual rankings. public Schools.
Principal Cristina Ferrao explained to Luza that in fact Infanta D. Maria High School (ESIDM) “in its action plan for the 2022/2023 school year, planned a study trip to Paris from the bus, for students in grades 9 (not 11- x, reportedly), which will take place in June.
“The visit is about a week, so the price is high. To inform the conditions and the route, a parent meeting was convened. And for this purpose they contacted a travel agency. The correct price was not agreed, as it depends on the number of people involved,” the director said.
Cristina Ferrao explained that “there were actually students who didn’t enroll and the parents suspected it was due to financial impossibility.”
A material released by Lusa on Saturday said guardians received information that explained: “As for the situation of students/families who cannot pay for a study trip, we, the organizing teachers, do not have to deal with this matter.”
The school principal then said that she had received information from some guardians “dissatisfied with the content of the response” from these teachers.
The director explained that she “acted immediately”.
“I sent an email to all Parents involved, apologizing on behalf of the School and emphasizing that ESIDM is an inclusive organization, not an exclusive one. I presented my readiness to find strategies to get out of this situation (similar to those that are already happening, in the School, for other students, in similar situations) and to meet with representatives of the Guardians. What happened, including the presence of the Guardian, which is mentioned in your journalistic Material. At this meeting, measures were outlined to include students who, due to financial inability (even if they do not benefit from any level of ASE), could not take part in this visit.