Portugal's climatic and topographic conditions allow for an extremely large number of crops. The main crops grown in Portugal are cereals (wheat, barley, corn and rice), potatoes, grapes (for wine), olives and tomatoes. Portugal is one of the world's largest exporters of tomato paste and a leading exporter of wines. These overseas sales help offset the cost of imported wheat and meat. Portugal also produces green vegetables, figs, oilseeds, nuts, cherries, bilberry, and edible mushrooms and is also well known for beef, cheeses, fruit and pork.
More than one-third of Portugal is forested. Most of the mountainous areas are well suited to forestry and forest products, such as cork, resins and pine and eucalyptus timber. The market value of these natural products has increased and there is a growing demand for the industry.
Portugal's long coastline and the abundance of fish in the surrounding waters have favoured the development of the fishing industry. Sardines, anchovies and tuna caught near the coasts, together with other species such as codfish from the North Atlantic, largely contribute to food supplies. The fish industry has prospered and its products are exported all over the world.
The Human Development Index is a summary of human development around the world that implies if a country is developed, still developing, or underdeveloped based on certain aspects of life such as health, education, income, etc. Health is measured by life expectancy at birth and those with higher life expectancies rank higher than those with lower life expectancies. Knowledge level is measured by the adult literacy rate and the gross enrollment ratios of students in primary school through the university level. Those with higher standards of living rank higher than those with lower standards of living. This is measured with the gross domestic product per capita in purchasing power parity terms, based on United States dollars.
The results of the HDI are published in the Human Development Report, commissioned by the United Nations Development Program and written by scholars who study world development and members of the Human Development Report Office. According to the United Nations Development Program, human development is “about creating an environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accord with their needs and interests. People are the real wealth of nations. Development is thus about expanding the choices people have to lead lives that they value.” The generated political competition is seen as a positive result of the HDI.
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Run by State organizations, charitable institutions, private and cooperative organizations, pre-school education is an optional schooling offered in Portugal that will accept children ages three to five. Pre-school education is considered very important because it is a foundational structure for lifelong learning, and considered a social and cultural necessity.
Pre-school education aims at teaching children social skills, comprehension reading and writing in multiple languages, a positive sense of ones self while recognizing and respecting different cultures, critical thinking and active learning, health and environment issues, and democratic participation for their age level.
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Basic Education
Basic education is for ages six to fifteen. It’s divided into three cycles: the first cycle is for four years and for ages six to ten, the second cycle is for two years and for ages ten to twelve, and the third cycle is for three years for ages twelve to fifteen. The first cycle is completed in primary schools, while the second and third are completed in secondary schools.
In order to enter the first cycle, the child must be six by the 16th of September. If a child is six by December 31st, they can also enter first cycle, but older the children get priority when filling the classrooms. Basic education must be attended in the area where the child lives, or where the parents work.
In order to register a child to school they need to show registration papers, health certificate, three passport photos, proof of identity, and a leaving certificate that confirms the previous level completed by a student.
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At the end of the school year, students have to be assessed by a National Exam. Those who do not reach a satisfactory score will not move on to the next stage, but will reapeat all or part of the year. Students who pass the general assessment at the end of the third cycle get awarded with a certificate of basic education by their school.
Secondary Education
Children ages fourteen and fifteen may continue with secondary education. Secondary education has a cost for enrollment and tuition, textbooks, and other school supplies. At the end of the tenth and eleventh year of schooling, there is a general written test in every subject called internal assessment. This test, along with the Class Council decides if a student can advance to the next class or repeat. In the twelfth year, an external assessment is given in the form of a written exam. A student must pass every subject in order to pass that year. A certificate is awarded to each student that passes and indicates their final mark in each subject.
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Higher Education
In order to apply to higher education, a student must have completed three years of secondary education and have a diploma(or equivalent) from secondary school. Higher education includes polytechnics, public and private institutions. Degrees to be achieved can be a bachelors degree, which takes three years, or licentiate degree, taking up to six years.
