RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN PORTUGAL

ABSTRACT: This article deals with the policies of Early Childhood Education in Portugal, highlighting the role of the State both as a promoter of public policies that aim to consolidate the right to education, as well as an advocate and driving force of the privatization dynamics of Early Childhood Education. From the analysis of official documents (1997-2018) and a case study, the research reveals that the State devised the system Education and Care and set differentiated policies and strategies for the provision, funding and governance of nurseries and kindergartens. It also indicates that, over the past decades, the relationships between the public and the private sector have been marked by neoliberal and third-way orientations that aim to reformulate existing networks, consolidate partnerships, redefine or introduce new regulation and funding processes, and propel the presence of new private sector players. Finally, we discuss the effects of these policies on children's rights, the democratization and equality in education.