CCEMS was created in 1998 as a result of the Nonio XXI Century programme. It is a result of the joining up of several in-service training centres from the centre of Portugal, which could, by joining forces and infrastructures, develop a support structure to the application of ICT to the educational projects of the associated schools.
The Competence Centres were created to be centres of study and investigation on ICT issues, applied to education and to support the implementation of ICT projects in school context.
“At school we still focus the problem and its solution on the teacher, and on all the different parts he plays at school ( teacher, organizer, manager) and in his ideas and attitudes regarding education and technology. For a complete change of attitudes and full integration of ICT at the school’s processes it seems fundamental, as a Competence Centre, to promote the following aims:
- Regarding the Continuing Training of Teachers, not only from the perspective of acquiring new skills, but also as an experience to be integrated in the teaching-learning process and in the daily relationship with the school and with society;
- Promoting new attitudes and approaches of pupils related to School and to schoolwork.
- Encouraging the participation of pupils through more involving and motivating methodologies, made possible by the use of ICT, and a greater intervention of these technologies in the teaching-learning process and in school and community life. “
CCEMS is an organization involving 11 persons (teachers, ICT experts and administrative personnel.) The main support is provided by the Ministry of Education, namely in terms of human resources, but the main direct partners are the DGIDC and ERTE/PTE.
Locally, some partnerships have been established. The municipality of Batalha and other municipalities works closely together with CCEMS, as they are responsible for the Pre-primary and primary schools.
This is a very important part of our organization because the work with the municipalities provides extra financing for the Competence Centre and a closer knowledge of the community.