The Vice-President of the Government highlighted today the "example" given by about 8,000 Azoreans who, due to "various circumstances" in their lives, had the courage to resume their studies after having left school and, therefore, achieved a new level of qualification.
 
"They are an example of what it is possible to achieve when one wants to," said Sérgio Ávila. He stressed that, under this innovative project at national level, the Government of the Azores "has managed to improve the skills of beneficiaries and provide them with additional academic training."
 
The Vice-President spoke at the delivery ceremony of over 124 Acquisition of Basic Skills (ABC) diplomas developed by the Valorizar Network since 2012. On the occasion, he highlighted the "enormous significance" of the moment, noting that this year alone 2,120 Azoreans have managed to obtain academic qualifications.
 
Sérgio Ávila stressed that the purpose of this measure is to ensure that "all Azoreans registered at employment agencies have no difficulties in the access to the labour market for lack of qualifications."
 
"We are very close to achieving this," the government official said, noting that "we have managed to certify 8,000 Azoreans" over the past five years, a third of whom in 2016. This situation evidences the "dynamics" of a projects distinguished at national level.
 
The Valorizar Network was distinguished, among several applications, for the results achieved and the innovation of ABC courses. The award was delivered in November under the 2nd "Lifelong Learning" Week at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon.
 
This measure is intended to ensure that all residents in the Region, over 18 years, will have an opportunity to complete their basic, secondary and vocational training education.
 
In this regard, ABC courses are a regional educational response to qualify people who have not completed basic education (4th, 6th and 9th forms).
 
The jury based its decision on the criteria of participation, i.e., the ability to mobilise target audiences and innovation, through implemented actions or practices.
 
The applications were also assessed for their impact, i.e., the results achieved and the ability to remain sustainable in the future, contributing to the development of other initiatives from the accumulated experience.