The President of the Government highlighted today the investment of about 100 million Euros that has been made during this term in the modernisation of the Regional School Network, which is another sign of the Regional Government's commitment to create conditions to ensure the educational success of children and young people in the Azores.
 
"Throughout this legislative period, the Region has invested over 100 million Euros in the rehabilitation and construction of new school buildings. This significant amount is also a sign of this strong investment in education and training as a guarantee of the future of our land and the success of forthcoming generations," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
The President of the Government spoke at the opening of the new Basic Education and Secondary School in Lajes do Pico, an investment of nearly 17.3 million Euros with capacity for 600 students. It provides a training offer ranging from Preschool, Elementary School, Middle School, and Junior High School to Secondary Education, including Special Education, Vocational Training and Artistic Education.
 
According to him, this school, like the new school of Ribeira Grande, opened Wednesday, or the school of Velas on São Jorge Island, is another example of the Government's work to redevelop the Regional School Network with the aim of providing students with the best conditions and, thus, optimising the conditions for the success of their educational paths.
 
"This is what we want to achieve with the works carried out in Canto da Maria School on São Miguel Island, the construction of Calheta Basic Education and Secondary School on São Jorge Islands and many other interventions, such as those ongoing in Jerónimo Emiliano de Andrade Secondary School and Flores Basic Education and Secondary School," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
According to the President of the Government, the projects for interventions in Capelas and Arrifes Schools and the second phase of the works in Rabo de Peixe School are at an advanced stage of completion; the redevelopment project for Padre João José de Amaral Basic Education School in Lagoa is also due to start.
 
On the first day of the new school year in the Region, Vasco Cordeiro highlighted the Government's efforts undertaken during this legislative period to ensure that the education system provides the appropriate infrastructures to students. In this regard, he pointed out the ratio of students per computer, which currently stands at 4.8 in the archipelago and surpasses the target set for five students per computer.
 
"This is a particularly important indicator because we are ensuring the basic right of all Azorean students to access relevant tools" for their educational path in an insular and geographically disperse region," said the President of the Government.
 
In his speech, Vasco Cordeiro also announced that this school year will still be marked by the launch of a new platform, designated as Open Digital Educational Resources, which will become available for teachers and students. In a first phase, it will provide several educational resources directed to Portuguese, Math, Physics and Chemistry teachers to be updated on a regular basis. This will encourage the sharing of open educational resources among teachers.
 
"In the second phase of the project, we will move forward with the autonomous use of resources by students in order to guide and deepen their study," said the President of the Government.
 
"With REDA platform, ProSucesso offers the possibility of new contents and new resources by using new information and communication technologies, enhancing the confidence in our teachers and their autonomy, and helping our young people to understand the multiple sources of information available," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
In addition, we created this year the Specialised Teaching of Sport, an educational experience implemented within the regular curricula for Middle School and Junior High School.
 
According to Vasco Cordeiro, this is, in fact, a unique and innovative experience in the country and provides for the reinforcement of Physical and Sports Education component.
 
"This project will be implemented in some regional schools under in the context of an experimental phase, being the result of a partnership between the Regional Directorate for Education and the Regional Directorate for Sport. The initiative was welcomed by the Portuguese Society of Physical Education and the National Council of Professional Physical Education Associations," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
However, the President of the Government restated that "the roots of school success neither begin at school nor at the School Board nor at the Regional Secretariat for Education. Indeed, they begin at home, within each family, when parents become aware that school success is one of the best legacies they can leave to their children and to the entire Region."