Is truth in the eyes of the beholder? Or are Portuguese schools, as viewed by Portuguese pupils, mismatching with what the educational system offers?

ABSTRACT

Pupils who like school have better academic performance and better perception of health and well-being. This study aims to (1) know the pupils’ views of their schools and their schools’ characteristics, assets and problems and (2) identify the variables that may predict enjoying school. A total of 6026 Portuguese pupils participated in the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study in 2014. Pupils reported that programme contents are too long and too boring as well as negative parental overpressure regarding school success. They also pinpointed issues regarding their perception of teachers (lack of trust and low person-to-person interaction) and regarding school facilities. These issues have an impact on the perception of how much they like and how they feel about school. Results suggested an urgent need to review present public policies regarding Portuguese education and the need to focus on the length and structure of programme contents and to the dynamics and length of the classes and school workload, as well as investing in school physical structures. Portugal has a ‘chronic’ low ranking regarding academic achievement according to several international studies; thus, some highlights on how to move forward are provided.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescents
• school
• academic success
• programme contents
• school facilities
• enjoying school

Acknowledgements

The HBSC study in Portugal was partially funded in 2014 by the Ministry of Health/DGS. The author is the Portuguese PI and has full authorship and access to data and data use.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. https://survey.pisa.rmassessment.co.uk/.

Additional information

Funding

The HBSC study in Portugal was partially funded in 2014 by the Ministry of Health/DGS