What kind of school do we all want to be?!

On 20 May, as part of the XIV Cycle of Debates, OBVIE organised an online session on Multiculturalism in schools and the PLNM. With the illustrious presence of Mónica Mascarenhas (Aga Khan Foundation Portugal), Teresa Oliveira (Aga Khan Foundation Portugal), Susete Albino (AE Carcavelos) and Paulo Feytor Pinto (Association of Teachers for Intercultural Education), we had the opportunity to hear about the challenges of building a more plural school.

The challenges facing schools today are diverse, and that's why it's crucial to prioritise interculturality. Today, language is one of the main barriers to accessing the curriculum and school, and PLNM - Portuguese as a Non-Mother Language - is not a subject that serves the curriculum; it is an opportunity to access and exchange cultures.  

The current legislation provides a set of possibilities that allow for greater flexibility and attention not only to migrant pupils, but to all children and young people in our education system. Based on the Profile of Pupils Leaving Compulsory Schooling, we realise the importance of schools acting on a humanist basis, where networking (with pupils, between pupils, between teachers and between schools) is a strength.

The sharing of resources and materials showed the possibilities that already exist and are available to different teachers. Whether in passing or effectively, the democratic school must find answers for all pupils. Because inclusion is everyone's responsibility, there are still possible answers to the question that marked the session: What kind of school do we all want to be?!