The National Federation of Teachers (Fenprof) criticised recent statements by Chega leader André Ventura, who read in parliament a list of names of immigrant children enrolled in a Lisbon school, suggesting that they had been given priority over children of Portuguese nationality, an idea later repeated by MP Rita Matias on social media.

The largest union representing teachers condemns "hate speech and racism" and cites the admission criteria defined by law to demonstrate that "the accusation of privileged access by immigrant children or descendants of immigrants is false."

"Children, their names, and identities cannot be the subject of xenophobic speech and comments, whether in the National Assembly or on social media. The inappropriate disclosure of children's names aims to fuel discrimination and hate speech, creating walls and barriers that pit 'us' against 'them,' validating racist and xenophobic acts, and violating fundamental rights enshrined in the Portuguese Constitution," criticizes Fenprof, which has approximately 50,000 members.

When there are not enough spaces for everyone, admission criteria for the public preschool system give first priority to children who turn five and four years old by December 31st.

After these cases, the law stipulates that those who turn three by September 15th are admitted, and finally those who turn three between mid-September and December 31st.

In cases where there are two children of the same age, the tiebreaker is prioritized by giving priority to children with specific educational needs and, then, to children of mothers and fathers who are underage students. The third priority is given to children with siblings attending the same school.

The poorest children follow: first, those who live in the school's area, and then those whose parents work in the school's catchment area. Only then are those who live in the school's area or whose parents work in the area. The priority list ends with older children, "counting their age, for this purpose, successively in years, months, and days," the law states.

Citing the legislation, Fenprof emphasizes that "the accusation of privileged access by immigrant children or children of immigrants is false" and calls on the Government to comply with the Constitution by increasing preschool and daycare offerings.