Portugal: The Ministry of Education and Science introduced the curriculum standards

The Ministry of Education and Science introduced the curriculum standards, which clarify what is considered to be the essential outcomes for students within the programme, while providing teachers with pedagogic freedom to teach. Together with the curricula for the different subjects, the standards are crucial references for teaching development. The programmes contain clearly defined priorities, indicating the knowledge to be acquired and capabilities to be developed by students in each school year. The curriculum standards are an essential learning reference for students in each subject and by year of schooling. The use of this regulatory document is progressively compulsory from the academic year 2013-2020 onwards. As guiding principles, the standards should help to identify the performance that demonstrates the knowledge acquired and what skills should be developed, assisting teachers, parents and students to identify if standards have been met and where difficulties may reside.

Source: Portuguese Eurydice Unit