The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture stated in Ponta Delgada that in the world of globalisation, "the discovery, protection and dissemination of an identity are an asset that ensures moral superiority and natural progress."
 
Avelino Meneses spoke at the opening of the training course for middle school teachers on History, Geography and Culture of the Azores. The government official conveyed his belief that the teaching of these themes "contributes to the enhancement of the students, as builders of the future."
 
With the completion of this training course, which will take place in stages and covers teachers from 31 middle and junior high schools, Avelino Meneses ensured that we have met the conditions to teach these contents to 6th form students in the school year 2016/2017. Moreover, there are also plans to gradually introduce them in the contents taught to Azorean students in Citizenship classes.
 
The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture has justified the decision of not adding "another subject to the curriculum in the arguments of the Scientific and Education Commission, taking into consideration the existence of a high number of subjects: 10 in middle school and 13 in junior high school." This body was created with the purpose of hearing teachers and schools on this matter.
 
Instead of creating a new subject, the option was to include new contents in the non-subject curricular area of Citizenship, which otherwise would result in "loss" to Azorean middle school and junior high school students who already have "more school hours than those in Mainland Portugal," said Avelino Meneses. In addition, the multiplication of areas of intervention would cause "dispersion in the concentration and interest of students."
 
"It is appropriate to introduce themes and contents about the history, geography and culture of the Azores in the non-subject curricular area of Citizenship which, as provided in the curricular framework for basic education in the Azores, emphasises the promotion of our historical and natural values as indispensable to understanding the concept of 'Azoreanity'," said the government official.
 
Avelino Meneses also stressed that local studies are "a modern trend" and "we should, as much as possible, follow the signs of time."
 
The Secretary for Education also highlighted the work of the University of the Azores in the preparation of the training plan as well as in the production of materials and content that will be provided in the appropriate platform.