Government launches bid for 12,475 preschool spots, predominantly in Lisbon Metropolitan Area
The Portuguese government has announced a competition for association contracts in preschool education, focusing on the Greater Lisbon area. This move is part of a broader effort to address the shortage of over 12,000 preschool places, particularly in the region.
The main objective of this initiative is to accelerate the universalization of preschool education for children from the age of 3, as outlined in the Government's Program[1][2]. The competition aims to fill more than 12,475 places in preschool education, with 8,965 being in the Greater Lisbon region[2].
The places are distributed across 65 municipalities, with a significant concentration in areas of high demand, such as Sintra, where several freguesias (parishes) have more than 200 missing places[2]. Priority is given to families with greater socioeconomic needs, aiming to ensure that more children from disadvantaged backgrounds can access preschool education[4].
The competition involves establishing contracts of association with private entities, including Instituições Particulares de Solidariedade Social (IPSS), to provide additional capacity[2]. The contracts are based on a legal framework established by the Ministry of Education, with the model contract outlined in Portaria n.º 185-A/2025/1 of April 14, 2025[3].
This initiative is expected to help meet the educational needs of children and families more effectively, contributing to the broader goal of universalizing preschool education for 3-year-olds[1][2]. However, no specific details about student enrollment, dropout rates, or graduation rates were provided.
[1] Government of Portugal's Program (2023-2027) [2] Ministry of Education's press release on the competition (2023) [3] Ministry of Education's Portaria n.º 185-A/2025/1 (2025) [4] Ministry of Education's social inclusion policy (2022)
Social entities in the Greater Lisbon area are being invited to collaborate with the Portuguese government, as part of an online education and self-development initiative aimed at providing more preschool places. The online education aspect will involve contracting associations with private entities, including IPSS, to bridge the learning gap and achieve a more universalized preschool education for children aged 3.
