AEC
Published 30 October 2026, 20:39
AEC — Atividades de Enriquecimento Curricular (extra activities beyond the curriculum in primary school)
Optional activities for years 1 to 4 after compulsory lessons. The Direção-Geral da Educação describes them as “facultativas” and lists the areas: sport, the arts, science and technology, links between school and the wider community, solidarity and volunteering, and a European dimension. Parents decide whether their child takes part.
Where you come across it. The first four years of primary school (1.º ciclo do ensino básico); children are signed up at school at the start of the school year.
AEC is not after-school care. Supervision before and after lessons and during the holidays is called CAF (Componente de Apoio à Família), and at nursery school AAAF; in DGE documents these are three different things, and they are paid for separately.
Official website: dge.mec.pt/aec-atividades-de-enriquecimento-curricular