The Technological Plan for Education is the Portuguese government’s programme for the technological modernisation of the educational system in Portugal. The Technological Plan for Education promotes the integration and the usage of ICT in teaching and learning methods, as well as in school’s management and safety systems.

The Technological Plan for Education intends to place Portugal among the five most advanced European countries in terms of the technological modernisation of schools by the year of 2010.

The diagnostic study about the technological modernisation of the educational system in Portugal, developed in 2007, revealed that the integration of ICT in teaching and learning methods was still very unequal. As such, the Technological Plan for Education represents a great qualitative step in the teaching and learning methods of new generations, preparing Portuguese people for the challenges placed by a knowledge society.

The Technological Plan for Education is promoted by the Ministry of Education at lower and upper secondary public schools and by the Ministry of Education and City Councils at primary public schools with possible financial support by QREN – National Strategic Reference Framework. Private schools can apply for financial support to develop projects inspired by the Technological Plan for Education.

The Technological Plan for Education is the result of the combined efforts of thousands of people, among which are teachers, students, leaders and workers from the Ministry of Education and other ministries, as well as city councils, companies and higher education institutions. The Technological Plan for Education has an operational structure based on collaborative networking.

The investment in the Technological Plan for Education represents, approximately, 400 millions of euros.

The Technological Plan for Education has been financially supported by State Budget and by EU financial support through projects approved by the QREN and by the Third Community Support Framework operational programs.

In the scope of the Ministry of Education, there have been executed, are being executed or waiting for approval projects regarding the following regional operational programmes:

- POPH for Interactive Whiteboards;
- POFC SAMA for Schools Portal and Simplex School;
- POVT for Computers;
- POR North for Local Area Network, School Safety (Video Surveillance) and Computers;
- POR Centre for Local Area Network, School Safety (Video Surveillance) and Computers;
- POR Alentejo for Local Area Network, School Safety (Video Surveillance) and Computers;
- POR Lisbon for Local Area Network, School Safety (Video Surveillance), Interactive Whiteboards and Video Projectors;
- POSC for Computers, Interactive Whiteboards and Video Projectors.

The first phase of the Technological Plan for Education was the preparation and launch of several international tenders to strengthen the ICT infrastructure of schools and to provide services of new generation:

Internet in the Classroom. Local Area Networks (October 2007). School S@fety. Video Surveillance and Alarms (December 2007). High-speed Broadband Internet (February 2008). Technological Kit – Computers, Video Projectors, Interactive Whiteboards (April 2008). CATE – Technological Support Centre for Schools (December 2008). School Card (December 2008). Simplex School (December 2008). Information System of Education (June 2009). VVoIP – Voice and Vídeo at Schools (September 2009).

Yes. In 2009, schools have three times more the number of computers connected to Internet, than in 2005. Public schools have, today, a computer for every other 5 students, an interactive whiteboard in for every other 3 classrooms, and a video projector in all classrooms.

Additionally, in 2009, the new connection to high speed broadband optic fiber Internet with, at least, 64 Mbps, more than duplicated the 4 Mbps registered in 2007 and surpassed the goal established for 2010 (48 Mbps).