The draft resolution, whose discussion in plenary was scheduled for the 18th, recommends that the Government "review the National Strategy for Education for Citizenship" so that the domain of 'animal welfare', currently optional, becomes "mandatory, preferably in all study cycles of basic education".
The party also appeals to the executive to "develop an education framework for animal welfare autonomous and independent from the current Environmental Education Framework for Sustainability or any other framework of education, in compliance with the provisions of the Decree -Law No. 27/2016, of 23 August".
The PAN parliamentary group also recommends the creation of a working group "for the elaboration of this framework, which integrates relevant professionals and citizens from the areas of Education, Psychology, Veterinary Medicine, among others, as well as specialists in well-being and animal behaviour, including representatives of animal protection associations".
The PAN party argues that "recent episodes have brought to public knowledge, in Portugal, environmental and animal massacres that demonstrate the failure of the State to protect ecosystems, species and pets" and argues that, "to help to combat this reality, there is an urgent need to ensure the awareness and education of all in this area".
The deputies recall that, although the "need to guarantee 'the integration of concerns with animal welfare within the scope of Environmental Education, since the 1st Cycle of Basic Education' was established in a decree-law, after four years it is said that this has been manifestly insufficient and pedagogical references that implement the legislation in question are not yet known".