Tiago Brandão Rodrigues

Relaxed, he welcomed us into his world. Into the place of his origins. Into the land that watched him grow. Into the house in which he was born. It is a serene place, full of memories and family moments. There we talked and captured, through the lens, the friendliness, kindness and smiles of Tiago Brandão Rodrigues. The man of science, who, four years ago, took on, with a full sense of duty, the political challenge of leading the Ministry of Education. As a scientist, he says of himself that he will be «a scientist forever». As a minister, he acknowledged that «work in education is very complex and multifaceted, but necessarily unfinished». Although he has lived in several countries, Paredes de Coura remains the place where he feels most at home. He makes no long-term plans, because he is passionate about what it does every moment. But he likes to feel that he has contributed to other people’s well-being. As he has been that way all his life, he couldn’t be any different when it comes to education, youth and sport.

How has your career path, throughout this parliamentary term, had repercussions on your life?
The repercussions on my being have been immense and intense. I returned to Portugal, after 16 years abroad. I came to live in Lisbon, where I had never lived, and everything changed in my day to day. And believe me having a busy schedule, seven days a week, and long and intense workdays, was not the biggest difference, as I already had a busy working life. Naturally, I started to speak in public or in the media very often. I started to be recognised and, often, questioned in the street, and to have a schedule packed with moments of huge responsibility. But the truth is that I feel truly privileged, because I have come into contact with and follow fantastic projects, immensely dedicated professionals, deeply talented students, exceptional sportspeople. And when we see that a project we have built, follow or support makes a difference, it all makes real sense.

To what extent has the state school system been improved?
It has been truly improved. The sector was very weakened, with the effects of the economic crisis and austerity policies having a huge and very marked impact on education. We have been investing in education again and recovering lost investment, hiring and giving more stability to all professionals and enabling them to progress in their careers. We have reduced class sizes and we are once again making crucial investments in improvements to hundreds of schools. It is vital that the state school system is the guarantor of quality education with a focus on school success and equality for all. This year we achieved the lowest dropout and retention rates ever. Preschool and lifelong learning are other milestones on which this improvement is based. With the educational communities, we have created a culture of autonomy and flexibility that values ​​the specific knowhow of teachers, the projects carried out in schools, giving these communities a future.

Do the Portuguese have faith in the state school system?
Without a doubt. And when we compare it with other countries, with those we like to make comparisons, some of which I have lived in, this is more than obvious. Several reports from leading international bodies in this area have highlighted the great progress of the Portuguese education system, 80% of which is based on state schools, a value that has remained stable. And increasingly we have all heard about innovative projects, award-winning teachers and talented young people from our state school system succeeding nationally and internationally. This is all very rewarding and does much for citizens’ faith in the state school system. I will always remember the team from Ponte de Lima Secondary School, which was world champion of Land Rover’s «4x4 in schools» challenge. They won a very demanding event, attended by 25 teams from 17 countries, and in which Portugal was the only country that took students from a state school.

How have you been trying to make assessments fairer? In particular with regard to national exams?
The national exams have been kept, at the end of basic and secondary education, as a way of verifying what has been learned. However, they have been complemented with ‘assessment tests’, which take place midway through the various cycles of primary education, which are more diagnostic, qualitative and formative, giving an indication to schools, pupils and families as to what the students have already learned and where they have room for improvement. This is much more useful and exacting than just getting a mark at the end.

«Golf is already one of the 36 sports practiced in what I usually call the biggest club in the nation: School Sports!»

Have you never considered making golf a school sport?
Golf is already one of the 36 sports practiced in what I usually call the biggest club in the nation: School Sports! And it is played in more than 60 schools, in various regions of the country, which meet periodically to play tournaments. There are national golf champions in School Sports. We have dedicated teacher training in this sport and six Sports Training Centres dedicated to golf around the country. I would love to have Villas&Golfe accompany one of our tournaments. Consider the invitation made! School Sports is indeed a fantastic programme that has been growing from year to year, enabling many hundreds of thousands of students to practice sports. Recently we have also invested in disabled sports, so that it can be truly inclusive.

Now that the term is ending, what do you take from these four years, what assessment do you make? Both in terms of education/teaching and your political life.
A very positive assessment. I believe we have fulfilled the mandate entrusted to us, by fulfilling the programme in the areas for which I am responsible. And we have left education, sport and youth in a better situation than when we found them.

What has been left to do in education in Portugal?
Work in education is very complex and multifaceted, but necessarily unfinished. There are always issues to be completed. Not least because society is changing rapidly. But, as I said earlier, one of the most important aspects is to open up a future for schools, for youth and for sport, so that we can continue down the path. That was one of my main concerns.

What made you go into the scientific world? Were you curious about making new discoveries?
Because of my incessant desire to go further. I have always been fascinated by nature and the idea of ​​adding knowledge to the world of knowledge. It is like being on the edge of a ravine, as this is the limit of what is known, and taking steps forward... But instead of falling, you create new ground, which is the new knowledge you create. Personally, science has given me skills that will accompany me for my entire life. 

You got a degree in Biochemistry. You specialised in Molecular Biophysics. You devoted yourself to the study of neurodegenerative diseases. You have done research in the field of oncology. Science and research therefore have a hold on you. Do you intend to return to this scientific world?
Once a scientist, always a scientist. It really is true that you can take a scientist out of science, but you cannot take science out of a scientist. I don’t know exactly what will happen in the future, but I can say that the world of science is always present in my life and, above all else, all the skills and knowledge I have obtained in it.

You are from the north of Portugal, from Paredes de Coura. What are you pleased to say about your origins?
Much of what I am can be better understood by visiting that territory. Having lived in nearly ten different places in four different countries, Coura and perhaps Moledo are the only places I feel at home. You only have to whisper these names and I can feel the synaesthesia happening. If my life were a chair, I can easily think that three of the chair’s legs would be connected to these origins.

«I worship the countryside, but the concept of human hives, that cities are, fascinates me»

Do you prefer the city or the countryside?
I worship the countryside, but the concept of human hives, that cities are, fascinates me. The best would be to be able to alternate days in the countryside and in the city.

Do you write or read?
I love reading and would like more time to write.

Music or silence?
I’m a music lover. But what value would music have without silence?

Talk or let people talk?
I, who talk a lot, think that letting people talk is almost always more interesting.

A good dish or a good presentation?
If you’re talking about a good PowerPoint presentation, then there’s no doubt that a good dish is better (he laughs). Lately, I’ve been enjoying good fish.

Where do you see yourself in four years?
I see myself in so many different places. I have never made long-term plans, because I have almost always felt that I was too involved and obsessed with what I was doing, at any given time.

What would make you feel more fulfilled, personally or professionally?
Many and very different things. But they have had, have, and I think, will always have a common denominator: to really feel that I am contributing to the well-being, achievement, and improvement of others. This has always contributed to my well-being, my achievement and my improvement. That’s how it was in the research I was doing, which was focused on the early detection of tumours and assessing the efficacy of cancer treatments. And that’s how it is in my daily work in the interests of education, youth and sport. But it is good to feel that every time something comes to a close, there is always a new beginning, whereby I believe I will continue to do the same in future projects in which I may be involved.