Portuguese education ministry investigates dismissals at EPM

The Portuguese Ministry of Education’s representative is currently in the region to evaluate the circumstances surrounding the termination of employment for the teachers at the Portuguese School of Macau (EPM).

This inquiry, which commenced last week, involves meetings with various parties directly involved in the case.

According to a report by Tribuna de Macau, envoy from the Inspectorate-General of Education and Science arrived last week and has already met EPM director Acácio de Brito and the president of the school’s foundation’s Board of Directors, Neto Valente.

The meetings lasted “several hours”, but specific details were not disclosed, according to the media outlet.

The primary objective of the visiting official’s presence is to determine the reasons behind the dismissal of several teachers, including four permanent residents.

In addition to meeting with the affected teachers, the envoy will also consult individuals from the Portuguese and Macanese community, including Miguel de Senna Fernandes from the EPM Foundation and Rita Santos, president of the Regional Council of Portuguese Communities for Asia and Oceania.

Expressing their concern, the Councilors of the Portuguese Communities issued a statement asserting that the EPM should retain teachers who are permanent residents and possess expertise in teaching Portuguese as a second language.

They emphasized the importance of allowing the teachers to “continue their work” and cautioned against replacing them with individuals who lack familiarity with the local context.

The statement from the Councilors also emphasized that the teaching of Portuguese at the EPM should never be regarded as a foreign language, as a significant percentage of students studying Portuguese as a non-native language are, in fact, of Portuguese heritage. They cautioned against disregarding culturally identity-related sensitivities that may arise from such dismissals.

The dismissals have sparked criticism from parents, guardians, and the Councilors of the Portuguese Communities.

In their statement, they stressed the importance of allowing the teachers to “continue their work” and advocated against their replacement by individuals who lack familiarity with the local context.

These dismissals follow a July statement by the EPM, in which the school assured that Portuguese as a second language would remain an integral part of the curriculum.

This commitment came after reports of an internal review of the Portuguese and first cycle departments concerning language instruction for non-native students.

In response, a group of guardians had sent an open letter underscoring the significance of maintaining these classes.

“Teaching Portuguese as a non-native language requires mastery of specific practices,” the Councilors said. They believe the dismissed teachers have developed this expertise over the past two decades, and it is essential not to squander their valuable contributions.

The ongoing investigation seeks to uncover the reasons behind the dismissal of permanent resident teachers who possess local expertise in teaching Portuguese. Victoria Chan