Dreams of education materialize in stone and brick. Here stands the Escola Secundária de Penafiel. It is more than just a school. It is a testament to Penafiel’s commitment to learning.
Escola Secundária de Penafiel has a rich history. It began as the Escola Industrial de Penafiel in 1960. The school was built on land donated by Dr. Alves Magalhães. He wanted to create a school for girls. The street where the Escola Secundária de Penafiel stands is named after him. It is Rua Dr. Alves Magalhães.
Over the years, Escola Secundária de Penafiel has evolved. It became the Escola Técnica. In 1978, it officially became the Escola Secundária de Penafiel. In 2010, the school underwent renovations. This provided better facilities for students and staff.
Today, Escola Secundária de Penafiel is a large school. It has over 2000 students and 150 teachers. The school focuses on secondary education. It is known for its science and technology programs.
Escola Secundária de Penafiel has received several awards. In 2010, it received a “Muito Bom” rating in an external evaluation. In 2011, it won the Geração Depositrão prize. The school’s newspaper, Logos, received an honorable mention from the Ministry of Education.
Penafiel has a long history of education. In the 18th century, students gathered at the “capela dos estudantes.” This chapel was located where the Cine-Teatro S. Martinho once stood. The creation of the Diocese of Penafiel in 1770 further boosted education.
In the mid-19th century, a college was founded on Rua do Carmo. It later moved to Rua do Paço. For almost a century, it was one of the most important colleges in Portugal. It was the famous “Colégio do Carmo.”
António Guimarães campaigned for a public secondary school. In 1960, his efforts came to fruition with the Escola Industrial de Penafiel. The “Internato” building was chosen to house the school.
Initially, the “Internato” was meant for educating girls. The founders decided that including boys would fulfill the founder’s wishes even more. In 1969/70, the school became the “Escola Industrial e Comercial de Penafiel.” Later, it was renamed “Escola Técnica de Penafiel.”
In 1978, a decree transformed it into the Escola Secundária de Penafiel. In 1968/69, secondary education began at the Colégio de Nossa Senhora do Carmo. In October 1968, the “Secção do Liceu Alexandre Herculano em Penafiel” was established. It gained autonomy and became the “Liceu Nacional de Penafiel.”
A decree in 1978 changed its name to Escola Secundário. On September 29, 1978, these two schools were abolished. The old Liceu de Penafiel and the old Escola Técnica de Penafiel were transformed into a secondary school.
On October 1, 1978, the Escola Secundária de Penafiel was created. The Escola Secundária de Penafiel continues to uphold a tradition. It has been recognized as an Eco-Escola. It received the Eco-Escolas award multiple times. This shows its commitment to environmental education.
The Escola Secundária de Penafiel stands as a pillar. It reflects Penafiel’s dedication to education and progress.