The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture (SREC) stated in Angra do Heroísmo that the Government of the Azores hopes to "combat the main scourge" of the Regional Education System with the creation of the Integrated Programme for the Promotion of School Success - ProSucesso.

"We have boldly fought school failure over the years through the implementation of programmes and projects, which we are currently reviewing and will continue to implement them," stressed Avelino Meneses. The government official spoke to journalists on the sidelines of a presentation ceremony of ProSucesso Scientific Council.

Avelino Meneses added that "the aim is to create an integrated plan for the promotion of school success that can be implemented throughout the archipelago, from Santa Maria to Corvo."

The Regional Secretary also mentioned that this plan "will also be compatible with pilot projects that will be implemented at schools and some islands in order to try new strategies."

The Scientific Council is composed of the following members: António Sampaio da Nóvoa, Roberto Carneiro, António Câmara, Ana Maria Bettencourt, Ermelindo Peixoto, Maria Amélia Correia de Campos and Suzete Câmara. "United by a wide experiences and knowledge as well as by a common goal that is education," the group will play an active role in the creation of this integrated programme, stressed Avelino Meneses.

The document resulting from the work developed by the Scientific Council in the near future will be subject to public discussion and with the partners in the area of education before its implementation.

"Once concluded, it will become the cornerstone of our action," said Avelino Meneses.
Moreover, the Regional Secretary for Education noted that the Azores have yet to accomplish two goals under the Strategy 2020 set by the European Union for education.

"One of these goals is the eradication of early school dropout and the other is precisely the prevention of school failure," said the Regional Secretary. In this context, the government official pointed out the decrease of 15 percentage points in the regional school dropout rate, which "represents a positive evolution."