Expanding the civic debate

In the last two decades, the progress of Portugal in both science and technology is overwhelming. The reasons for this successful evolution have already been very much dissected, but it’s a good idea to remember the key role, which was introduced by Mariano Gago, of a culture of evaluation and demand.

The universities and the research centres build knowledge and train people, but they will only be able to do more if the raw material that they receive is well-prepared. Therefore, the strategic vision of science in Portugal has to cover the previous training – it must contribute to qualify it.

This way, it is our civic duty to take a look at the secondary education, and before that, at the primary education. And mathematics is the basic for those who want to focus on engineering.

It’s indeed disturbing to see what is constantly done and undone in the definition of programmes and goals, as an oscillating and exasperating pendulum. Portugal is a country that trains engineers (according to the official statistics, it’s only behind Germany in the UE) – so, why don't we ask the opinion of the engineering schools and of the engineering research centres about this?

The evaluation culture has the advantage of giving the correct behaviour signals that without effort, there is no benefit - nullum praemium sine labore. The benefit is not a right, but instead a conquer, a recognition. It’s a merit. It forces the fight, which leads to improvement – and that is what happened to the national scientific system.

What is happening to the primary and secondary education? Are the behavioural signals correct? Or, on the contrary, in pursuit of a certain type of success, the education is being stimulated into not being demanding?

It is important that the agents of the university and of science participate in this debate.

A human policy must serve all citizens. However, the need for inclusion and educational success may not be invoked against a demanding and evaluation obligation. Imagination for combining these goals is inevitably necessary. Scientists certainly have it – ask them.