The Government of the Azores, through the Regional Directorates for Youth and Education, will extend the "Entrepreneurial Education" programme to elementary school students in partnership with the University of the Azores and the Society for the Business Development of the Azores (SDEA). This initiative will now cover all levels of education.

"We will move forward with a pilot project in elementary school in order to develop the essential skills for this age level, with special emphasis on the importance of goals, organisation, time notion and teamwork," said Regional Director for Youth.

Speaking at the opening session of the fifth edition of the "Entrepreneurial Education" programme in Ponta Delgada, Pilar Damião pointed out that the extension of the project to basic education is a "response to the actual needs of youngsters."

According to Pilar Damião, this measure falls within the "challenges launched by the EU Commission," as Member States defended "the importance of promoting entrepreneurship in various levels of education" during the meeting of the EU Council of Education.

The Regional Director for Youth stressed that the Government of the Azores "attaches great importance to this initiative, which brings Azorean youngsters closer to the social and cultural reality and the labour market".

This programme also aims to instil the entrepreneurial spirit among younger generations "so that they will be able to face and overcome future challenges with determination," added Pilar Damião.
In turn, the Regional Director for Education stressed the importance of a project that "guarantees the quality of students' education."

"The entrepreneurial spirit that this initiative aims to develop can make a difference in the life path of each of our students," stressed Fabíola Cardoso. The government official added that the Regional Government is "significantly" investing in the training of elementary school teachers. According to her, "the extension of entrepreneurial education to this school level is another sign of recognition of its importance."

"The "Entrepreneurial Education" plays relevant a role in a social and education context of major changes by providing students, through their teachers, a learning dynamics based on experience and know-how," added the Regional Director.

This year, the "Entrepreneurial Education: The Path to Success" programme provides new training courses for teachers in the areas of Social Entrepreneurship and Financial Education in addition to a platform containing innovative resources.

The fifth edition of this initiative involves the participation of 89 teachers and will be held in 43 schools across the archipelago. It will be followed by the organisation of the "IdeiAçores" contest.