The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture stated in Angra do Heroísmo that the evaluation process of teachers and school boards, now under negotiation with the unions, following the amendments to the Teaching Career Statute in force in the Azores since October. According to him, it is "simpler and more effective."
 
Avelino Meneses spoke to journalists at the end of a meeting with one of the two teachers' union of the Azores teachers. He conveyed the expectation that this process will come to a conclusion in time for the new regulation comes into force "in early September 2016, with the beginning of the new school year."
 
According to the assessment model proposed by the Government of the Azores, teachers will now "prepare a self-assessment report at the end of each career level, which means that it should take place every four years. However, there is only one level, more specifically the 5th, which is shorter, lasting only two years," said Avelino Meneses.
 
The teachers' performance evaluation has been performed in accordance with the Integrated Management and Performance Evaluation System in the Regional Public Administration (SIADRAPA). It determines an evaluation every two years for tenured teachers and hired teachers; the latter will now be subject to an annual evaluation.
 
With regard to school boards, according to Avelino Meneses, "there is indeed a novelty," as these management bodies, which are evaluated according to the rules of SIADRAPA, will now be evaluated by public administration” adapted to the reality of schools" in the Region.
 
The Regional Secretary also stressed that, contrary to what happens in the country, the regional school boards "are chosen in a completely democratic way," through an election "in which teachers, students and, even, parents and tutors take part."
 
In this context, Avelino Meneses rejected "any interference of the department" in this process.
 
The Secretary for Education said the performance evaluation of school boards "has been considerably simplified." He added that it is no longer "an annual assessment, according to the rules of SIADRAPA, and will become a triennial assessment" that will be carried out in the end of each term.
 
On the other hand, "instead of being an individual assessment, it also became a peer review."
 
"Naturally, the department is involved in the assessment of school boards, primarily by establishing and assessing the compliance with goals and responsibilities," said the government official.
 
"These goals and skills cannot be limited to the opening and closing of schools or to the maintenance of school buildings. In fact, they should be focused on the assurance of school success, which is the main goal to the extent that students are at the core of the regional education system," said Avelino Meneses.