DECENTRALIZATION OF COMPETENCES IN EDUCATION

UMA ANÁLISE SISTEMÁTICA DA LITERATURA NOS ESTUDOS DE CASO REALIZADO NOS MUNICIPIOS PORTUGUESES

Abstract

This article is based on a Systematic Literature Review, with the adoption of rigorous criteria according to which published and accessible studies on the Decentralization of Skills in the area of Education in Portuguese Municipalities were selected in the RIA and RCAAP databases. The purpose of this investigation is to characterize the decentralization of competences in the area of education in Portuguese municipalities as well as to assess the degree of implementation. A review question was formulated, with the elaboration of the objectives and definition of the keyword inherent to the present study, construction of inclusion/exclusion criteria and the PRISMA systematic review protocol. In the initial research phase, 42 articles were found, but after applying the various inclusion and exclusion criteria, 7 articles remained for analysis. A content analysis was carried out on the final corpus of articles grouped into 3 categories: (i) legislation; (ii) municipalities; (iii) school clusters and (iv) perspectives for future studies. The analysis addressed, among others, the need to: (i) identify obstacles and difficulties in implementing the decentralization of competences; (ii) explore the implementation of decentralizing measures in municipalities; (iii) explore the perceptions of school groups regarding the decentralization of skills; (iv) present recommendations for future studies. Evidence stands out that the decentralization process in administrative and financial terms has already been fully implemented, although there is a path to implementation in pedagogical aspects.