Natural Wonders in Europe: Portugal

Because the city of Olhão is situated in a disadvantaged area, our school cluster (Agrupamento) integrated a TEIP - Educational Priority Intervention Territory this school year. The city of Olhão currently suffers heavily with the socio-economic crisis, with a considerable number of households benefiting from social support. This conjecture is clearly visible by the percentages in School Social Action (45% of the pupils benefit from level A). We have students ranging from the age of pre-school through adults, and we have classes of PCA (Alternative Curriculum), CEF (Education and Training Courses), PIEF (Integrated Program for Education and Training), EFA (Adult Education) Training Program in Basic Skills, Modular Training (ICT) and Portuguese for All (PPT). We are a reference school cluster for students with multiple disabilities (140 pupils). In addition we have a large number of Roma pupils and pupils from different nationalities.

The external evaluation team identified the participation in national and international projects as one of the strengths of our school cluster, with positive results in terms of interaction with the community.

Our school has over 500 pupils aged 3 – 17. Many of them benefit from School Social Action (levels A and B). We have classes of PCA (Alternative Curriculum), CEF (Education and Training Courses) and several special needs students who have adapted curriculums. There are students from countries as diverse as Brazil, Russia, China, Pakistan, India and Mozambique, among others.

The work being done at school to improve the environmental quality of the school and promote the awareness in students to become environmentally responsible citizens has been recognized by the European Blue Flag Association and we have been awarded the Eco-School Green Flag Award. This work has been carried out with the participation of the school community, as well as environment-related institutions (Ria Formosa Nature Park, Algar, RIAS), the Parish Council and the Municipality.

We are situated near Ria Formosa, classified as a Nature Reserve in 1987, and recently elected by popular vote as one of the 7 Natural Wonders of Portugal. Due to several natural features and its geographical location, it was included in the list of wetlands of world-wide interest defined by the Ramsar Convention.

Posters with information of the participating schools, countries and National Parks/Reserves