The decision results from a request for provisional injunction "filed by 68 students, who were duly authorised by their parents and guardians," the legal representative told Lusa.

According to lawyer José Carlos Pires, the action aimed to reopen the school and suspend the decision of the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation (MECI) to "compulsorily and definitively" close the Aljezur International School, alleging that it was not licensed to operate.

According to the court order, to which the Lusa news agency had access, it is determined “the provisional granting of the requested precautionary measure, in this case the suspension of the effectiveness of the act that determined the definitive closure of the establishment with the consequent reopening of the school”.

According to the document, the court took into consideration the applicants' allegations, considering the urgency “in resuming the school year before it is irretrievably lost”.

“Considering whether it is appropriate, from now on, and for the duration of the precautionary action, to determine the suspension of the act and, a fortiori, the reopening of the school,” it says.

The Ministry of Education has 10 days to contest and oppose the injunction.

Closure

The Aljezur International School was "forcibly closed" on October 24th, in a joint action by the General Inspectorate of Education and Science (IGEC), the Directorate-General for School Establishments (DGEstE), and the National Republican Guard (GNR).

In a statement sent to Lusa at the time, the Ministry of Education clarified that the private school was closed because it did not "hold any operating authorisation, whether provisional or definitive, and was therefore not approved by the Ministry."

The Ministry indicated that the assumptions that previously justified the granting of provisional authorizations "are not suitable for the facilities in which the establishment has operated since 2013, with only its formal name remaining, devoid of legal and administrative validity."

Since 2022, the school "has refused to comply with administrative closure orders," and several orders to that effect have been issued, the ministry says.

The most recent order, dated January 10, 2024, was signed by the then Secretary of State for Education.

Students

In total, 85 students from the 7th to the 12th grade are affected by the closure of the private school.

The Ministry of Education (MEC) stated that students in grades 7 through 9 would be integrated into public school classes according to their age.

As for high school students (grades 10 through 12), their placement would be assessed individually, with ministry services monitoring the situation.