“We have already announced that we intend to institute the ban. Last year, we recommended the ban, we prepared the ban for the first and second cycles, regardless of the nature of the institution; therefore, for both public and private schools,” he said.

On the sidelines of the laying of the first stone for a new student residence at the Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Fernando Alexandre stressed that “the law applies to everyone”; however, he did not specify when the measure would come into force.

“We are preparing for the start of the next school year and, very soon, we will provide news and information to schools and society about how these measures will be implemented and the deadlines,” he said.