The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture stressed at the Legislative Assembly in Horta the pioneering work of the Azores in dignifying the teaching profession.
 
Avelino Meneses spoke on screening of the health conditions of teachers working in the archipelago. He recalled that, during the revision of the Teaching Career Statute, "the recognition of the physical and mental wear of the teaching profession was duly acknowledged under the right to the dignity of their occupation." According to him, "this is a pioneering rule throughout the Portuguese territory."
 
Hence, the government official rejected that the department he oversees "does not look after the health and well-being of its employees, especially of teachers."
 
"It is true that the Regional Secretariat for Education and Culture invests in the creation and improvement of working conditions for its employees, particularly for teachers working in the Azores," said the government official.
 
As for health, safety and hygiene rules at work, Avelino Meneses also added that the Government has established the right to legal assistance in case of serious annoyances perpetrated by students or their tutors in regard to teaching activities.
 
The Regional Secretary stressed that the screening of teachers' health has not been conducted has not been conducted in the Azores since 2008. He added that through the "use of other mechanisms in the Azores, including certificates of physical and mental strength, home disease management and the conduction of medical committees, fulfils "a purpose similar to screenings, which consist in the assessment and characterisation of teachers in the Regional Education System."
 
"It is well known that the Teaching Career Statute in the Azores specifically provides for the conduction of screenings," the Regional Secretary said, adding that "if such a rule did not exist, thing would be exactly the same, because teachers, like all Portuguese civil servants, benefit from legislation on safety, hygiene and health at work."
 
"If, in the Azores, as throughout the country, it is not possible to implement all planned actions, this happens due to the lack of human and technical resources and, perhaps, financial resources," said Avelino Meneses.