The results scored by Azorean 9th form students in the final Portuguese exam registered a similar trend to what has been recorded in the national context, with a slight decline compared to the average mark of last year.
 
According to the results released today by the Educational Evaluation Institute (IAVE), the average mark of the Portuguese exam taken by 2,192 Azorean students stood at 51.52%, representing a decrease of 1.11% compared to the results recorded in 2015. This decline is in line with the downward trend at national level, decreasing from 58% in 2015 to 57% in 2016.
 
With regard to the Math exam, the average mark of the exam taken by the 2,215 Azorean students rose from 37.38% in 2015 to 37.42 in 2016.
 
In this subject, the Region does not follow the decline of one percentage point in the national average from 48% in 2015 to 47% in 2016.
 
The results fall short of the Regional Government's desired expectations. They show the need, on the one hand, to make an early diagnosis of learning difficulties in order to take action as soon as possible and, on the other hand, to invest in the professional development of teachers by promoting their continuous training. This will allow to them to better adjust their teaching practice to the heterogeneity of their classes.
 
This effort is being undertaken under the Integrated Programme for the Promotion of School Success - ProSucesso, which was approved by the Resolution of the Council of the Government no.133/2015 of September 14 for an implementation period of ten years. It requires stability policies and perseverance in interventions, with special emphasis on elementary school.
 
The effort to improve the quality of student learning, a goal that makes up Axis 1 of ProSucesso, should be main purpose the educational actions pursued by each school establishment.
 
Improving educational outcomes requires the involvement of everyone, including students, parents, teachers, technicians and school leaders, but also of the community; the latter also plays an active role in the education of children and young people.
 
In this context, each educational establishment, through its own bodies, has developed and is implementing its Plan for the Promotion of School Success based on the assessment of its school failure issues. The preparation of the plan took into consideration the social context in which schools operate, the relation with local authorities, other schools in the municipality and the educational community, the resources available and the goals to be accomplished. It required the participation of all parties involved in this process, namely teachers and other education professionals, students and parents/tutors.
 
The results released today should motivate the necessary reflection so that it may be possible to unite efforts, work together, analyse difficulties and outline strategies for each school to overcome these challenges, always rejecting the path of resignation.
 
The final exams have a weight of 30% in the final mark for internal students.