The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture highlighted in Ponta Delgada the Regional Government's effort to ensure that all children and young people attending public school may learn together and with quality, regardless of their origin, condition and characteristics."
 
Avelino Meneses stressed that the Government "does not reject efforts to adapt the educational process to the requirements of those who have disabilities or special educational needs." Its action is focused on "the adaptation of curricula and school organisation as well as on the reinvention of educational strategies."
 
The Secretary for Education spoke at the signing ceremony of an agreement between PT Foundation, the Regional Secretariat for Education and Culture and the Group of Friends of the Paediatrics Department of Divino Espírito Santo Hospital for the implementation of the IT solution, "TeleAula."
 
In his speech, Avelino Meneses also stressed the Government's action to provide the regional educational system with the necessary human resources both in terms of "quantity and quality" in order to ensure "the appropriate functioning" of schools.
 
In this context, he pointed out the example of the recent integration of three hundred teachers into the regional teaching staff; "many vacancies" corresponded to teaching positions in special education.
 
Avelino Meneses stressed that the implementation of the "TeleAula" project will allow the interaction of students at home or admitted to hospital with the classes where they belong at their respective schools.
 
"We are not bringing people with disabilities or diseases to school, we are rather bringing school to those who cannot go to school, whether they are at a hospital or at home," said the government official.
 
The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture also noted the "essential" contribution of students and teachers to the "smooth functioning" of special education and educational support, stressing their "great courage" in overthrowing the "barriers of misunderstanding, injustice and inequality" that still persist in society.
 
Avelino Meneses also thanked the PT Foundation and the Group of Friends of the Paediatrics Department of Divino Espírito Santo Hospital because, through this project, we are helping them achieving our goal of "leaving no one behind," particularly those "who need everything, from health to education."
 
The "TeleAula" project is aimed at social and academic reintegration of school-aged young people who, due to their health conditions, are unable to attend classes.
 
By installing specific equipment in the classroom, students may attend the class from the hospital where they are or in their home, using a computer with Internet connection.
 
Currently, the "TeleAula" programme benefits three students enrolled at Rabo de Peixe Basic Education School in Ribeira Grande and Povoação Secondary School; both schools are located on São Miguel Island.