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In a year and a half, Education contracted 30 million for technology and ministry reformPhoto by AymaneJed on Pexels
Business
Education

In a year and a half, Education contracted 30 million for technology and ministry reform

Público13 September 2026 at 06:54

The Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MECI) spent approximately 30 million euros on technology and ministry reform contracts over a period of a year and a half. This figure only covers contracts from three of the several MECI bodies, suggesting the total value could be significantly higher.

The use of external entities accelerated in recent years, driven by funds from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). Technology dominates these expenditures, representing the largest portion of contracted values.

Among the contracted companies, Deloitte accounts for three million euros in contracts for 2026. The article does not specify the other bodies or detail which other companies are involved in providing services to the ministry.

MECI is a relatively recent ministry, created following a government reshuffle. The article suggests that the hiring of external consultants is related not only to technological projects but also to the reform and restructuring of the ministry itself.

Why this matters

Portuguese taxpayers see the government spend 30 million on external consultants in a short period, raising questions about the ministry's internal capacity and the effectiveness of public spending. Schools and educational institutions, the main recipients of MECI's services, may be affected by the prioritization of technology contracts over direct investments in education. This pattern follows the national trend of increasing reliance on PRR to hire private companies.

About this summary

This is our short summary of a report published by Público on 13 September 2026 at 06:54; the full text stays with the publisher. In our feed it sits under Business. We currently carry 22118 items in that section.

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