Diversity in schools is increasing. On average, each group welcomes students from 19 nationalities, twice about what happened about six years ago.
Foreign students from Brazil and Palop have higher retention levels compared to other foreign students who do not speak Portuguese. The lead rate is almost double compared to the other migrants.
In just five school years, the number of migrant students almost tripled in Portuguese schools. In 2023/2024, it went to 140,000, the highest ever. There are establishments where they represent one third of the total students.
This new reality brought various challenges, such as the language issue. But the data revealed this Thursday by the Ministry of Education show that the retention rate is higher in students coming from Portuguese-speaking countries and Brazil, compared to those from Eastern Europe or China.
About a third of students who arrive from Brazil and Angola failed at least once in the third cycle, and the rate is even more expressive when we look at those from Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde and Sao Tome and Principe.
When we look at those who arrived from China, the failure of failure is 14%, followed by young people from Ukraine with 19%and the French with 20%.
The numbers of the Directorate-General for Education and Science Statistics allow to compare the paths of foreign students with those who have a similar profile at national level.
In the first cycle, 93% of Portuguese students completed it in the expected time, the four years. Also 85% of Ukrainians successfully finished this cycle. The biggest difficulties were recorded in the students of Nepal and India.
When we look at the second cycle, fifth and sixth, the success of Chinese students jumps in sight. 98% successfully ended this level; In the case of Portuguese students, the percentage is lower: 96%. Again, the students of Sao Tome and Principe, Angola, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau reveal more difficulties.
The trend remains in secondary education, with half of the students in Brazil and more than half of those who arrive in Angola to have at least one retention in the curriculum, twice the Chinese students.
