AAUMinho against extinction of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education

The end of this ministry became known at the end of this afternoon with the announcement of the constitution of the XXIV Government.

The Academic Association of the University of Minho (AAUMinho), together with other student groups, expressed displeasure with Luís Montenegro’s decision to merge the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education with the Ministry of Education. The position was taken through a statement published on social media.

Academic associations accused this measure of demonstrating “a clear disrespect for the importance and specificities of higher education and the strategic importance of science for the country’s economic growth”. In addition to highlighting the “fundamental role in national development” that higher education plays, the groups lamented that the new government does not recognize the “need for specific policies and investments to enhance this area”.

The groups that signed the statement launched an appeal to the prime minister-designate to “reconsider” this decision and guarantee higher education “the necessary resources so that it can fully fulfill its mission of training qualified citizens”. Fernando Alexandre, professor at the School of Economics and Management at the University of Minho, will be the new Minister of Education, also taking charge of these areas.