INSPECTION ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE GENERAL INSPECTION OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE (PORTUGAL) BETWEEN 1996 AND 2022

Abstract

This article aims to analyse the relationship between the inspection activities developed by the General Inspectorate of Education (IGE)/ General Inspectorate of Education and Science (IGEC) between 1996 and 2022 and the educational policies implemented in Portugal.

It can be seen that, in general, there is a direct correspondence between inspection activities and the competencies assigned to this Inspectorate, according to the organic laws of the Ministry of Education (ME) and IGE/IGEC, as well as a relationship between inspection activities and educational policies, namely with the school autonomy regime and the school evaluation system (non-higher education).

There is also a link between changes in the government and the Chief Inspector appointed, and the inspection programmes and projects developed.

The inspection programmes in the areas of control, audit, ombudsman, and disciplinary procedures are present in all the activity plans and reports, independently of the educational policies and the Chief Inspector.

The inspection programme, which includes the ombudsman, disciplinary procedures, and administrative litigation corresponds to the programme with the greatest number of working days, followed by the programmes of control, evaluation, and audit.