The concept of competency is considered both in relation to the educational competency of the short-cycle student described in the "Dublin Descriptors" of the Bologna Process and in the European Commission's European Qualifications Framework, and in relation to the legal competency that the European Commission has within the field of…

In this article, policy and research on teacher induction in Portugal are examined. The lack of a formal induction system (despite recognition of its relevance in legal policy documents) and the mismatch between national regulations and practice are also discussed. The authors argue the need for a coherent and sustained induction and support…

Public schooling has been kidnapped. The author examines how this happened--since we all know very well who did it. How did public schooling become a hostage of world's neo-rightist political processes? This article attempts to unveil some of those strategies that underpin the very core of the neo-rightist current triumphalistic posture. To…

Describes recent policies and curriculum guidelines for early childhood education in Portugal, including a new role for the state in encouraging and harmonizing public and private initiatives, intervening directly in deprived areas, and providing unified pedagogical supervision. Presents a new, collaborative way of envisioning administrative…

Includes "Introduction" (Chitty, Lawn); "Curriculum in New Zealand" (Jesson); "Curriculum Knowledge" (Cornbleth); "Promised Land" (Lima, Afonso); "Defining and Re-defining the Teacher in the Swedish Comprehensive School" (Kallos, Nilsson); "What's Happening to Teachers' Work in…

The structural reforms of geography teacher training in Portugal have been justified by the global evolution of the educational system and took into account: (1) the political will to extend the period of compulsory schooling, which now covers the whole of lower secondary education, but will soon cover upper secondary education as well; (2) the…

This paper reviews the development of interest in teaching Portuguese to immigrant students, an interest rooted in an individual's ethnicity and cultural past. The story of a Portuguese couple who immigrated to Sweden with their young son is recited, emphasizing the child's struggle with his lack of identity with either Portuguese or Swedish…