The Regional Secretary for Education and Training will sign a protocol with the Commission for the National Reading Plan on Terceira Island in February, thus implementing a project that intends to improve literacy levels.

Lina Mendes, who met with the Commissioner of the National Reading Plan today, said that the ceremony will take place at the library of a school on Terceira, yet to be defined, on February 5.

Likewise the national project, the Regional Reading Plan aims to improve the literacy levels in the archipelago, creating a favourable social environment for the development of reading and writing skills. In addition, with this plan the Regional Secretariat intends to extend reading habits, especially the school population.

Being regarded as a factor of individual development and regional progress, Lina Mendes considered the Regional Reading Plan a “project of great importance for the Azores” as it will involve children, youngsters and adults.

“The meeting with the Commissioner, Fernando Pinto do Amaral, was very enlightening at the level of the work dynamics implemented in Mainland Portugal  which we want to adopt in the Azores,” stated the Regional Secretary at the end of the meeting held in Lisbon.

A team from the Regional Secretariat for Education and Training (SREF) has been working to adapt some of aspects of the National Reading Plan to the Azorean context, particularly the Azorean books and authors to be included in the regional project as well as the its graphic image.

After the signing of the protocol, the SREF will have 60 working days to present a development plan containing the calendar of all activities to be carried out in the archipelago.