School place problem continues in Portugal: 569 students were placed, files are still open in Odivelas and Barreiro

As the new academic year begins in Portugal, extraordinary placement efforts for students who cannot find a place in public schools continue. The Ministry of Education announced that 569 more students were placed in schools in Almada, Sintra and Amadora; However, there are students in Odivelas and Barreiro who have not yet been assigned to a school.

The Ministry also acknowledged that the problem may not be limited to the first days of the academic year and stated that new registration requests are expected to continue coming in the coming months.

65 percent of 569 students applied late

According to data from the Ministry of Education, a total of 569 students were placed in schools in the municipalities of Almada, Sintra and Amadora on Tuesday.

It is stated that 65 percent of these applications were made outside the normal registration calendar.

Schools are increasing the number of students in some classes to accommodate students who were not placed in any of their top five choices.

Minister of Education Fernando Alexandre argues that increasing the number of students in classes up to 30 when necessary does not jeopardize the quality of education.

First, places were found for 500 students in Lisbon

This development comes just after the situation of approximately 500 students in the city of Lisbon was resolved.

After a nearly seven-hour meeting between the Ministry of Education and school administrators in Lisbon on Monday, approximately 500 students who do not yet have a place in public schools A place was determined for the student.

Now efforts are shifting to other troubled municipalities in the Lisbon metropolitan area.

Students still waiting in Odivelas and Barreiro

According to the latest statement of the Ministry, there are students in Odivelas and Barreiro who have not been assigned to schools yet.

Agência para a Gestão do Sistema Educativo (AGSE) is looking for a solution for the pending files by holding new meetings with school administrators and municipalities.

The Ministry expects new registration requests to continue in the coming months, even though the academic year has started. It is stated that it is normal for new applications to arrive, especially in January and February, due to the experiences of previous years.

Therefore, the fact that more than a thousand students were placed in the last two days does not mean that the crisis is completely over.

Resources

Renascença — João Malheiro — 16 September 2026

https://rr.pt/noticia/pais/2026/09/16/escolas-ministerio-admite-que-vao-continuar-a-aparecer-muitos-novos-pedidos-de-matricula/485613/

Renascença — Cristina Nascimento — September 14, 2026

https://rr.pt/noticia/pais/2026/09/14/resolvida-situacao-de-500-alunos-sem-vaga-nas-escolas-publicas-de-lisboa/485438/