Order of Public Instruction explained

Order of Public Instruction
Ordem da Instrução Pública
Awarded By: Portuguese Republic
Type:Order
For:High services rendered to education and teaching.
Status:Currently constituted
Head Title:Grand Master
Head:President of the Portuguese Republic
Head2 Title:Chancellor
Head2:Maria Helena Nazaré
Grades:Grand Cross
Grand Officer
Commander
Officer
Medal
Established:1927 as the Ordem da Instrução e da Benemerência
1929 as the Ordem da Instrução Pública
Higher:Order of Merit
Lower:Order of Entrepreneurial Merit

The Order of Public Instruction is a Portuguese order of civil merit. Established in 1927, it is conferred upon deserving individuals for "high services rendered to education and teaching."[1]

History

Established in April 1927 as the "Order of Instruction and of Benevolence" (Ordem da Instrução e da Benemerência), the order was originally designed to reward "the services of domestic or foreign enterprises to the cause of education, and all acts of public benevolence influencing the progress and prosperity of the country." In 1929, the order was reformulated and split into two distinct orders, the "Order of Benevolence" (Ordem da Benemerência), which evolved into the present-day Order of Merit and the "Order of Public Instruction," the latter being designed to reward services rendered to the cause of education; however, the original insignia of the Order of Instruction and of Benevolence was retained by the Order of Public Instruction.

The 1962 Statute of Honorific Orders of 1962 further defined the criteria for awarding the Order of Public Instruction, namely "to reward services rendered by employees in teaching or school administration" and "services rendered by any person in the cause of education or teaching." Subsequent legislation enacted the present definition.

Grades

The Order of Public Instruction is awarded in the following grades:[2]

Insignia

The plaque is eight-pointed and filleted to represent rays, in gold enamel for the degrees of Grand Cross and Grand Officer and in silver for the degree of Commander. An inner eight-pointed blue enamelled star is superimposed over the plaque and overlaid with the coat of arms of Portugal in gold wreathed by two golden palms joined at their tops with their petioles crossed and bound by a wavy listel of white enamel with the legend "Instrução Pública" in gold, all indented.

The badge consists of two crossed golden palms.

The ribbon is of golden yellow silk.

Method of wear

Recipients

See main article: articles and List of recipients of the Grand Cross of the Order of Public Instruction.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=139 Order of Public Instruction - History (in Portuguese)
  2. http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=140 Order of Public Instruction - Grades and Insignia (in Portuguese)