The Regional Secretariat for Education and Training reiterated today that “all requirements” are fulfilled for the “normal start” of the school year 2009/2010 in the Azores, as all preventive measures against the threat of Influenza A have been taken.
“We are working on time and committed to assure the safety of all the educational community as well as the normal running of schools,” Lina Mendes stated, speaking at the Santa Maria Basic and Secondary School, where the solemn session to open the school year took place.
Although the Regional Government is doing everything within its reach, the Regional Secretary for Education and Training underlined that “each person has the duty to avoid the transmission   of the disease, ensuring the individual and community health.”
All educational establishments of the public network already have Contingency Plans and information leaflets containing the main precautions to reduce the risks of disease spread are being handed out to parents.
Lina Mendes also assured that the closing of schools in the region “will only take place as a last resort” and always in conjunction with the health authorities. 
Towards students, teachers and guests, the Secretary thanked “the commitment” of several executive bodies and of all teachers, who have dedicated themselves so that classes may start “without confusion and delays,” ensuring “the desirable educational success” to the nearly 43 thousand students registered in the public network of the Archipelago.
According to Lina Mendes, the current school year will essentially serve to plan and undertake technical work regarding many initiatives that will be implemented starting in 2010/2011, such as the regionalisation of the curriculum and the creation of the regional reading plan.
In addition to the implementation of the Oportunidades Programme (for school turnaround), this new school year will count upon the increase of the teaching time of Portuguese and Mathematics in all basic education levels and the promotion on simplification, through the debureaucratization  of procedures so that teachers may focus on teaching.
Regarding evaluation, one of the most controversial issues among teachers, the Secretary highlighted that the process has evolved in order to meet the teachers’ interests and demands, simultaneously assuring the performance of the educational system and the students’ educational success.
“I know that changes are not always peaceful and require the creation of new routines. But the truth is that we cannot stay behind nor paralyse with the criticism of those, who wish to stagnate,” Maria Lina Mendes stated, stressing that the evaluation process is regarded today as “necessary and important,” as it promotes the professional development of each teacher.
Moreover, the Regional Secretary for Education and Training pointed out the investment made by the Regional Government to modernise the school network on the nine islands.
“It is with great satisfaction that I say that today we have a school network in continuous renewal in the Azores, properly equipped and capable of providing a response to future challenges,” the Secretary stated, claiming that the cases that do not correspond to this situation have already been identified to be solved soon.