Portugal works to resolve national exam delays as 73% of tests now corrected

Government response to exam delays

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro addressed the ongoing problems with national exams during a visit to the NOS Alive festival, acknowledging the concerns of students and teachers. He said the government is making a "very large effort" to resolve the situation and appealed for calm. Montenegro promised structural improvements for the next school year and framed the current difficulties as part of a complex digital transformation that would ultimately improve efficiency.

We are doing everything to, within the context, release the results and let the process continue. It is what we are doing in a demanding digital transformation procedure that, after this great test, will surely be a great advance in our educational system.

Correction progress reaches 73%

António Leitão Amaro, the minister of the Presidency, told reporters that 73% of the national exams distributed for correction have now been graded. He described the advance since Wednesday as "significant progress" and said the government is fully committed to meeting the legal deadlines. The pace of corrections is accelerating, he said, and capacities are being reinforced to overcome constraints, particularly with exams that have not yet been distributed due to various reasons.

At this moment the total focus is to advance the ongoing processes, the correction pace is growing significantly and we have not yet reached the legal deadline.

Deadlines and institutional response

Asked about possible changes to the calendar for access to higher education or compensations for affected families, Leitão Amaro stated that the government has taken no such decisions. The immediate priority is to push forward with the current procedures and comply with existing deadlines. He emphasized that there is no plan yet for altering schedules or offering compensation, and that all efforts are concentrated on concluding the correction process on time.

Broader digital transformation effort

The prime minister cast the exam glitches as a transitional challenge in the education system's digital overhaul. He expressed confidence that once the current difficulties are overcome, the new system would be faster and more viable for the school community. The government’s messaging aimed to reassure students and educators that the long-term benefits justify the current strain.