Die grundlegende Entwicklung des Bildungsniveaus in Portugal: vom Nachzügler zum Klassenbesten in 30 Jahren

It takes time to overcome such a disadvantage.

I speak from experience that the gap in competency between the generation currently joining the work force and the generation that graduated in the 90s (now in positions of power) e gigantic. This graph helps to put that feeling into hard data.

After the dictatorship falling and the country joining the EU, the demand for high skilled jobs in Portugal was much greater than the supply and competition or incentive for continuous improvement was non-existent. Combine this with a rigid hierarchical society and you have an explanation for what’s happening today.