The Municipality of Leiria and the Portuguese Association of Gifted Children (APCS) signed a cooperation protocol on Saturday, October 10th, to establish the APCS Regional Hub in Leiria. This initiative aims to strengthen specialized identification, assessment, and support services for children and young people with exceptional abilities, responding to the growing demand for these services.
The new hub will offer specialized proximity support, including psychological assessment, guidance, and monitoring, benefiting families and the educational community. The agreement also foresees collaboration in awareness and training activities for teachers and guardians, as well as the promotion of educational enrichment programs and the enhancement of the Investir na Capacidade Program (PIC Leiria).
This partnership, developed since 2016 between the Municipality of Leiria, the APCS, and the Politécnico de Leiria (now Universidade de Leiria e Oeste), consolidates the work under the PIC Leiria program. Over a decade, the program has supported approximately 160 children from the municipality, with 18 currently in follow-up, promoting educational opportunities tailored to their characteristics and potential.
The protocol's approval, unanimous in a Council meeting, represents a step forward in promoting differentiated educational responses, aiming to foster individual potential, learning motivation, and prevent school demotivation and failure. The agreement takes effect in the 2026/2027 academic year, with an initial duration of one year, automatically renewable.
The signing was part of the celebrations for the 10th anniversary of PIC Leiria, themed “PIC Leiria: 10 years cultivating talent”. The event included a presentation of the program's journey, the launch of PICOLINO – Edição PIC 2026, and a cultural moment. Recently, PIC Leiria received an Honorable Mention at the National Education Awards 2026, in the Fostering Learning category.
