Portugal has a long-standing tradition of education and is one of the oldest countries in the world to provide a public education system. Education in Portugal is free and compulsory for children aged 6 to 15, and is divided into three stages: basic education (primário e secundário), secondary education (ensino secundário), and higher education (ensino superior). The Portuguese government invests heavily in education and has recently increased the amount allocated to the sector, aiming to make Portugal a more competitive and attractive country for international students. Portugal also boasts a number of world-class universities, such as the University of Lisbon, the University of Porto, and the University of Coimbra.