According to the European Commission, Portugal is one of the European Union (EU) countries with the highest rate of children under 3 years of age receiving education and care (47.5%) and employment opportunities in vocational training courses (83%) in 2022 year. .
Under-3 participation in early childhood education and care (ECEC) in 2022 was well above the EU average (35.7%) and already close to Barcelona’s revised national target for 2030 (50.7% 8%).
According to the Education and Training Monitor 2023, published this Monday, in Portugal “the frequency of formal childcare for children under 3 years of age increased further in 2022 (47.5%) compared to 2021 (43.3%).” .
Among children aged 3 to 6 years (early education), the ECEC attendance rate in 2021 was 90.5%, lower than the EU average of 92.5%, with no data available for 2022.
In turn, the employment and vocational training (VET) aspect of 2022 showed one of the best employment rates in Portugal, with 83% of recent VET graduates aged 20 to 34 in employment, above the EU average of 79.7%. .
In 2021, 40% of secondary school students were enrolled in VET programs, with Brussels highlighting EU support “which has allowed the system to be modernized and supply increased.”
Regarding teachers, the community leader not only warns of a shortage problem, but also points out that 32% of teachers were 55 years of age or older (24.5%) and half of the teachers (49.7%) were over 50 years old, this the rate is significantly higher than the EU average (39.4%), with only 2% being under 30 years of age (EU 7.5%).