The annual report of the National Education Council (CNE) traces the Portuguese educational system in the 2018/2019 academic year and analyses data collected over the past 10 years, based on national data and international comparisons.

The goals set by the European Union for 2020 had not yet been reached in 2019, but were very close, with some being achieved this year.

The president of the CNE, Maria Emília Brederode Santos, says that the European goals were, "in the majority, on track to be achieves", but underlines that it is not enough to meet measurable goals.

“The Portuguese education system has made progress in the last decade, but there are still problems that deserve attention”, warns the CNE report, noting that the rate of early dropout has decreased by two thirds and the rate of completion of higher education has gone from 21.3% to 33.5%.

In the International Student Assessment Program of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (PISA), Portuguese students have been showing improvements in the three subjects tested: reading, mathematics and science.

However, there is still a high level of failure and drop-out rates, as well as a high percentage of adults who have not completed secondary education.