SER Peer Learning Week - From resource allocation to equal learning opportunities
Using financing instruments as drivers for education policies
About
The peer learning event “From Resource Allocation to Equal Learning Opportunities: Using Financing Instruments as Drivers for Education Policies” takes place from 9 to 13 March 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. Organised together with the Ministry of Education of Portugal, in the framework of the three-year Supporting Education Reforms and Skills (SER) Programme in the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region—funded by the European Union and implemented by the European Training Foundation —the event aims to strengthen regional cooperation by promoting exchange and peer learning on education financing among partner countries and EU Member States.
The event also presents Portugal as a case study within the EU context, highlighting how reforms in education financing can support broader policy objectives such as decentralisation, school autonomy, inclusion and accountability. Particular attention is also given to recent reforms in the governance of the education system, including the reorganisation of the Ministry of Education and its institutional structures aimed at improving policy coordination, financial management and system oversight. Site visits to schools and meetings with national and local authorities offer first-hand insights into the practical implementation of funding mechanisms and governance arrangements.
Participants
Over the course of four and a half days, participants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine engage with Portuguese education authorities, experts and stakeholders to explore how financing instruments can support equitable access to quality education. The programme combines policy discussions, thematic peer exchanges and field visits to educational institutions and local authorities in Lisbon and the surrounding region.
By bringing together policymakers, education experts and practitioners, the event contributes to strengthening professional networks and supporting evidence-based reforms in education financing across the Eastern Partnership.