In Coimbra, the association’s president, Pedro Pimpão, called for an urgent balance between municipalities' powers and state funding.

A University of Minho study confirmed that municipalities spend more on education than they receive from the Decentralisation Funding Fund, echoing mayors' longstanding concerns.

The study reinforces the main argument: municipalities consistently face underfunding and must redirect resources from other essential services to cover the true costs of education. This pressure on already tight budgets threatens the quality of services such as health, transportation, and social support.

ANMP frames adequate education funding as a matter of fairness and crucial for Portugal's future. The association urges clear rules, a defined timeline, and regular, transparent reporting to ensure councils have the resources to meet legal obligations and invest in education effectively.

Despite the funding gap, Pedro Pimpão, mayor of Pombal, supports decentralisation, highlighting municipalities' resilience. ANMP notes that local management enhances efficiency and quality by bringing school oversight closer to communities.

The group points to successful examples as evidence. Local management has brought new education programs, faster support for schools, and stronger ties between schools and their communities. For instance, some municipalities have started after-school activities and improved facilities through their own projects, showing the benefits of local knowledge and involvement. Still, the group says the government must keep its promises on school building funding.

Decentralisation is meant to bring decision-making closer to communities, but it can also lead to bureaucratic delays, problems with resource sharing, and confusion about which responsibilities belong to the central or local government.

ANMP calls on the central government to urgently begin open, transparent discussions. They insist that new responsibilities must be accompanied by guaranteed funding and call for regular reviews to assess municipal financial needs. Stakeholders stress the need for national and local collaboration and urge policymakers to work together so that education reform is responsive, innovative, and earns the trust of citizens.

The findings show that municipalities pay for far more non-teaching staff than the law requires for schools to run properly. They must manage staff, payroll, and professional development while ensuring compliance with complex regulations and maintaining high service standards.

Furthermore, more than 80% of schools now managed locally are over 30 years old, and many were not built to meet today’s standards for education, the environment, or accessibility. These schools urgently need repairs to provide good learning conditions.

Because many schools are old, they have outdated heating systems, poor accessibility, basic playgrounds, and outdated technology. These issues make it harder for students and teachers to learn and work in good conditions. The age and condition of these buildings can also pose dangers, including mould, asbestos, and weak emergency systems.

Some schools do not meet today’s standards for safety, comfort, or digital learning. With technology’s growing role in education, this situation is unacceptable. The group calls for immediate, targeted investment and thorough planning to ensure every student and teacher has access to safe, modern, and effective learning environments.