According to the newspaper Expressorector António Sousa Pereira says he received pressures from several people “influential and with access to power”, Not wanting to advance names.
The rector of the University of Porto denounced that he received pressures from several people to leave the medical school 30 candidates who had not obtained the minimum classification in the test required in the special access course.
rector António Sousa Pereira says he received pressures from several people “influential and with access to power”, Not wanting to advance names.
The subject, writes the Express, arrived at the Minister of Education, who called the Rector to express availability to create extraordinary vacancies so that these students (who had not obtained the minimum classification in the test required in the special access competition for graduates in other areas) took place at the medical school.
“The minister would like this to be done, but I said to him, ‘I do not do it. I comply with the law. If the Minister understands that it must be otherwise, give me the order and I execute it,'” the rector told Expresso.
The Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, confirmed to the newspaper the existence of the conversation saying that “During the phone call was expressed the availability for the creation of supranumerary vacancies, provided that, for this purpose, there was a legal basis.”
At issue there are 30 students who did not get sufficient classification in the knowledge test
According to the Express, concerned are 30 students They competed for the special access competition for licenses, but obtained less than 14 values in the knowledge test required in the selection process, which is automatically a reason for exclusion, according to the contest regulation, published in “Diário da República”.
As part of this Special Competition, the University of Porto Medical School opened, for the school year 2025/26, 37 vacancies, which competed about 50 candidates. Of these 50 candidates, only seven had 14 or more values in the test, held in May, so being able to enter.
However, he writes Expresso, after the results of the exam, the contest selection committee, consisting of six faculty teachers, “He decided to propose the exceptional application ‘of a minimum grade of 10 values, rather than the 14 established in the regulation, which allowed the entry to 30 more students.”
“And without informing the rector of the UP, whom it is up to the exclusive competence to approve the definitive results, these candidates notified that they had entered the course”says the newspaper.
The rector “He was only aware several days later, on July 7, and refused to approve the list of placed because he considered that the entry of those candidates was illegal in the light of the regulation.”
Following the decision, only the seven who had more than 14 values were admitted, The remaining 30 vacancies initially opened in this contingent reversed to the National Competition for Higher Education Access, as stipulated by the law.
“Moved influences that made themselves felt with the rector”
Under the decision, the candidates protested, including with the Parliament and, according to the Express, “moved influences that made themselves felt with the rector”.
The newspaper says that in the meantime, the director of the Faculty of Medicine, Altamiro da Costa Pereira, argued that 30 extraordinary vacancies could be opened to allow their entry into the course, even if they had not obtained the minimum grade required.
“In disagreement with this proposal, the dean asked the director general of higher education, who gave reason to the rectory,” according to Expresso.
The Minister of Education requested intervention by IGEC – General Inspection of Education and Science, which concluded “by legal inadmissibility” the opening of these places, “for the absence of legal basis” e “for the risk of violation of the principles of legality, equality and legal certainty”.
