The phenomenon of so-called "elite classes," which group the best students together, has been a topic of ideological debate in Madeira's schools for over two decades. In 2006, DIÁRIO reported that the practice of separating "repeaters on one side, good students on the other" was a criterion used, with proponents arguing that a strong group enhanced the qualities of the best students.
Conversely, others advocated for heterogeneous classes to ensure equal opportunities for all, warning that segregation exacerbated social disparities and disadvantaged students with more complex life histories. The Teachers' Union at the time noted that the "temptation to group the best students" had lessened, but the issue remained recurrent.
The demand for specific public schools, particularly in the 2nd and 3rd cycles, was also notable, with Horácio Bento de Gouveia School being a preference. Parental pressure extended from pre-school to maintaining children in the morning shift at 1st-cycle schools, such as those in Pena, Ilhéus, and Ajuda.
