Centro de Formação de Associação de Escolas Ordem de Santiago (eacher Trainning Center Ordem de Santiago)

The School Association Training Center “Ordem de Santiago” (CFAE OS) was established in 2008, following the consolidation of four pre-existing structures, in operation since 1993, dedicated to supporting the continuing professional development of teachers within the municipalities of Setúbal, Palmela, and Sesimbra. Based at Lima de Freitas Secondary School (Setúbal), CFAE OS benefits from a substantial array of IT and multimedia resources, as well as a dedicated team of six professionals: one teacher, two organizational assistants, and three specialized technicians. Currently representing approximately 3,300 teachers, 450 operational assistants, and over 30,000 students across 19 schools or school clusters, CFAE OS stands as the largest institution of its kind nationwide. The Center’s mission is to advance and support the strategic objectives of national education policies, through the following core actions: 1. Planning and delivering training programmes for both teaching and non-teaching staff, in alignment with the identified needs of the E/AE and national educational priorities. 2. Facilitating access to knowledge and practices of scientific, pedagogical, and cultural relevance, within a lifelong learning framework supported by local, regional, national, and international partnerships. 3. Promoting professional responsibility and autonomy among teachers. 4. Cultivating active citizenship through educational practice, founded upon the principles of human dignity, solidarity, and cultural diversity. Since July 2024, Dr António Pedro Duarte has served as Director of CFAE OS. With a career dedicated to teacher professional training since the 1990s, his academic credentials include a Specialization in Pedagogical Supervision (ULHT), a Master’s in Education Sciences (UTL/FMH), and a PhD in Education Sciences – Physical Education and Sport Didactics (UL/FMH). His professional background includes extensive experience as a mentor and supervisor of teaching internships for Physical Education teachers at both ULHT and FMH – University of Lisbon. Over the past 25 years, he has also collaborated with multiple teacher training centers as a professional development trainer, contributing to the enhancement of educational quality and innovation across the sector. António Pedro Duarte