The President of the Government urged Azorean families to become aware of the important role they play in creating the necessary conditions for the academic success of students.

"It is important to have this awareness and, above all, it is important not to ignore the paramount role of Education in the development and progress of our Region," said Vasco Cordeiro. The President of the Government spoke at the opening of the repair works of Velas Basic Education and Secondary School that also included the adaptation to secondary school.

At the ceremony that marked the beginning of the school year, which starts Monday in the Azores, Vasco Cordeiro stressed that the key to educational success does not begin at school or with School Boards and the Regional Secretariat for Education, but in "the home of each Azorean family."

At the opening of the new school in Velas, which represented an investment of nearly 16 million Euros, the President of the Government also restated that the Government's commitment towards Education comprises the components of infrastructures, human resources and strategies, which have been defined to achieve results.

In addition to the new school opened today, Vasco Cordeiro Vasco Cordeiro pointed out as other examples, such as the new auditorium of Domingos Rebelo School or the interventions in the cafeteria and kitchen of Antero de Quental Secondary School. The President of the Government also mentioned the ongoing construction works of Lajes do Pico Basic Education and Secondary School, a 16-million Euro investment, and Gaspar Frutuoso Basic Education School in Ribeira Grande, an investment of nearly 18 million Euros.

The Government has already launched the public tender for the construction of Calheta School on São Jorge, whose contract work will be awarded in the coming days, as well as the interventions to be carried out in Canto da Maia, Arrifes and Rabo de Peixe schools.

"These are examples of a series of interventions with a very significant value that are intended to create good condition for the proper operation of the education system," said the President of the Government.

In terms of human resources, Vasco Cordeiro ensures that the Government will "draw its attention to this component so that the education system may be properly provided with these resources" to yield results for the benefit of the Azores.

"We have also concluded, according to our schedule, the procedures for the placement of teachers in schools, thus providing them with this key component. In the school year 2015/2016, there will be more 226 teachers compared to the previous year. This figure includes teachers who have become attached to the regional teaching staff as well as those who are hired to meet temporary needs," announced the President of the Government.
 
Following the Government's commitment and the implementation of Community guidelines, Vasco Cordeiro stressed that the Government has been trying to find a solution to solve the situations of temporary contracts, resorting to this measure only to address temporary needs.

"We have also increased the number of non-teaching staff members by 50, from higher technicians to other staff categories," the Regional Secretary stressed, adding that the Council of the Government has approved a major reform of the Teaching Career Statute in order to value this key component, following the dialogue with the representatives of teachers' unions.

As for the strategy defined for Education, Vasco Cordeiro ensured that one of the cornerstones is based on ProSucesso Program, which "embodies the consciousness of the path and the challenges" the Azores will have to face in the area of school success and our strategy of "not giving up."

In this context, a total of 50 elementary school teachers will participate in a training course in the area of Math that aims to create a network of qualified teachers for the identification, assessment and resolution of learning difficulties.

Implemented in 2012/13 in the region, the Fénix Programme will be extended this year to other schools. It now encompasses 44 projects in 20 school establishments, after starting in the first year with just six projects in four school establishments.

According to Vasco Cordeiro, ProSucesso also involves the diversification of the training offer. This school year, there will be more vocational courses for middle school and junior high school levels as well PROFIJ II courses, making up a total of 65 courses. In turn, vocational training schools and secondary schools have opened a total of 71 vocational training courses and PROFIJ IV courses.

Besides these measures, the Azores have an average class size below the national average. Vasco Cordeiro stressed that in the elementary school level, where national law provides that the classes should consist of 26 students, the Region has an average of 16.7 students per class, while for middle and junior high school levels, national legislation determines a minimum number of 26 students but allows up to 30 students per class. The Autonomous Region of the Azores has an average of 19.5 students per class.