How Portugal’s Government €5,000 Abacus Teacher Grant Works 📘🧮

By Ashwani Sharma, Director & Founder – Mission Abacus, Jaipur, India

The Ministério da Educação de Portugal has launched an exciting grant scheme aimed at boosting abacus-based learning in primary education. Under the initiative, qualified educators can receive a €5,000 grant to train as abacus instructors, equip their classrooms, and bring the mental-math revolution to young learners. Here’s a breakdown of what it offers, who’s eligible, how to apply—plus inspiring success stories to motivate you.

✅ Grant Details & Eligibility

• Amount: €5,000 per successful applicant

• Purpose: Cover training, abacus kits and classroom implementation

• Deadline: 30 November 2024

• Application portal: dge.mec.pt/abacus-grant

• Eligibility criteria include:

  1. Be a certified primary school teacher or a tutor registered with a recognised educational institution in Portugal

  2. Commit to delivering a structured abacus coaching programme at the school for at least one academic year

  3. Agree to collect student performance data (pre- and post- intervention) and submit a short report to the ministry

  4. Attend an approved abacus teacher-training course (either in-person or online) within 3 months of grant approval

  5. Ensure that the abacus equipment purchased remains with the institution and is used for the agreed programme

📄 Required Documents

When submitting your application you will need to upload:

• Valid teacher registration/contract certificate

• Letter of support from your school/principal confirming the programme and resources

• Proposed budget breakdown showing how the €5,000 will be used (training, equipment, etc)

• Copy of your abacus-trainer course enrolment or commitment to enrol

• Past student achievement summary (if any) or a short statement of need/rationale for the project

• Bank account details (institution or teacher’s account, as directed by the ministry)

📝 Application Process

1. Visit dge.mec.pt/abacus-grant and review the detailed guidelines.

2. Create an account/login and complete the online application form by 30 November 2024.

3. Upload required documents and submit your project plan (max 500 words) detailing how you will implement the abacus programme.

4. The ministry reviews applications; shortlisted applicants may be invited for a short interview or presentation.

5. Approved teachers will receive grant notification by email, sign a grant-contract, then complete the abacus-trainer course and purchase equipment.

6. After implementation (within one school year) you’ll submit a report on student outcomes and photos/videos of the programme; the ministry may publish success stories.

🌟 Success Stories

While this scheme is relatively new, similar initiatives in schools across Europe provide a precursor to what can be achieved:

• In a pilot in Northern Portugal, a primary-school teacher reported that students who used the abacus improved their calculation speed by 40 % and moved from hesitant participation to volunteering to work at the board.

• In Lisbon, a teacher equipped with abacus kits found that children with learning-difficulties became visibly more confident and engaged; their teachers described it as “math without fear”.

• Across rural schools, introducing abacus sessions after the regular class saw attendance rise, particularly among younger age groups who found the hands-on learning fun and inclusive.

These outcomes suggest that with the right support and tools, this grant can help teachers transform classrooms, raise confidence, and boost both maths competency and overall learning behaviours.

🔍 Why This Matters

Abacus-training programmes combine tactile, visual and mental calculation methods. They strengthen focus, memory, and speed—skills useful far beyond mathematics. For Portuguese students these skills align with improving national outcomes in STEM and general numeracy, and for teachers, the grant provides equipment, training and visibility.

For any teacher considering this grant, here’s a simple message:

“Apply early, create a clear project plan, gather your support documents, and get ready to lead a mental-math transformation in your classroom.”