ANESPO – the Portuguese National Association of Vocational Schools – has now Amadeu Dinis, principal of the Vocational School CIOR, as its President, following the elections held last March, for the four-year term 2024/27.
The public inauguration ceremony of ANESPO’s governing bodies took place on April 12th, in Lisbon, before leaders of its members, representatives of the Portuguese Government, public bodies, social and institutional partners.
Amadeu Dinis and the team he leads presented an election Manifesto on the theme of Vocational Schools and Quality Education as a commitment and lines of action, based on four fundamental pillars:
- Financial and treasury sustainability of Vocational Schools.
- Pedagogical innovation and strengthening of training offer.
- Institutional affirmation at national and international level.
- Organization and functioning of ANESPO.
The new President stressed the importance of projects and partnership dynamics in Europe, saying that “we intend to strengthen ANESPO’s presence in national and international forums, deepen the international involvement of Members and promote ANESPO’s participation in international projects”.
ANESPO, member of EfVET since the beginning, was created in February 1991, following a process supported not only by the Vocational Schools that already existed at the time, but also by a group of personalities linked to Education and by the business community who saw Vocational Education and Training as an important factor for coherence and quality development. Today, ANESPO brings together most of the Portuguese Vocational Schools belonging to different private entities in civil society, from Business Associations, Foundations, Cooperatives, Local Authorities and Companies, set up in the different ways permitted by law.
Each year, the 200 private schools welcome 750 new Vocational Education classes, meeting the aspirations and life projects of 15 000 young people by offering them modern, dynamic, innovative, and entrepreneurial educational and training pathways.
The business fabrics of the country, the regions, and the municipalities, in all their diversity and plurality, based on strategic partnerships grounded on mutual advantages, have in the Vocational schools specialized and highly qualified technicians in the most diverse sectors of activity to respond to the demands of the labour market.
In this new phase that is now beginning , ANESPO will continue to contribute for the quality of VET in Portugal, together with its members and key education stakeholders, and will continue being actively involved in EfVET activities and initiatives.
