The Regional Secretary for Education and Training stated on Thursday that all Azorean schools have ongoing affective-sexual education projects, an area that has a specific regional legislation since the year 2000.

“All schools in the Azores are developing affective-sexual education projects. Some of which have student support offices which jointly operate with Healthcare Centres,” Lina Mendes said to journalists, stating that the students’ demands do not make sense in the Region.

The Azorean students from basic education and secondary schools joined the national fight last Thursday with the organisation of a demonstration in Ponta Delgada to demand for more sexual education at schools as well as for a new student statute.

As Lina Mendes explained that since the beginning the emphasis was given to affective-sexual education and not to sexual education, as the education for affections is already included in preschool education.

With regard to the increasing democratisation in schools, the Regional Secretary stated that at regional the school management bodies are democratically elected and not appointed. Moreover, students are represented at school assemblies and at the educational council.

“There is full democracy in schools, so this is not in question,” stated Lina Mendes.

The issue related to tests and absences was also among the students’ claims, an issue about which Lina Mendes stated that there is some ignorance on the part of students, as the Azores have adopted the national exam regulations.

“Students who fail due to absences have the possibility of taking the exam in the second phase,” informed the Regional Secretary for Education.

Concerning the privatisation of cafeterias, Lina Mendes added that schools are satisfied as they can monitor the quality of the services rendered and launch more demanding contracts.

“We consider that students have the right to study, while we and all the educational system have the duty to ensure a quality education,” Lina Mendes emphasised, calling on students to take the opportunity of completing their training, which will enable  them the acquisition of a future professional qualification.