Ensino profissional

: última escolha?

Abstract

It was in 2004 that Professional Teaching ”entered” our secondary schools representing an enormous challenge and a continuous learning process inside a reality still deprived of major recognition, mainly, in what concerns the value of professional learning in the life of the students whose school path diverges from the regular educational system’s classical canons. As far as our experience is concerned, a more positive perspective is highlighted regarding both the professional courses themselves and the nature and quality of the learning process they aim to promote. Year after year, the students or trainees show positive signs of change not only through the growing number of available courses and enrollments, but also through the possibility they have to regard this school offer as an excellent path to the real future world. Excellence as a teaching goal is not an exclusivity of some schools/schools offers. Success derives from the effort and professional attitude that every teacher is able to devote so that students may learn and succeed. The spread of Professional Teaching here in Portugal these past few years is the living proof of its true success. However, we urgently need to destroy old myths related to the students’ social background and their motivation to enroll in this type of courses. Professional Courses are definitely not a last option but another formative opportunity and another teaching/learning model. From the data analysis and mainly from our daily professional experience, another portrait and impact of Professional Courses emerge, endowing them with the importance they have and deserve in the edification of a society which is more involved in the ideals of social equity. Gradually, schools and/or Professional Courses have been conquering “new target people”, instilling a differentiated rhythm in order to develop how to be.

Date of Award	2012
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Cristina Palmeirão (Supervisor)