The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture stated in Ponta Delgada that the promotion of school success continues to be the Regional Government's priority at the beginning of a new school year that starts Wednesday, September 14.
 
"We are at the beginning of a new school year and the fight against school failure remains our priority. It is a long fight and will last for years, but the small victories of last year give us confidence," said Avelino Meneses, who was speaking at the opening of the meeting of the Network of Socio-Educational and Technological Centres.
 
Avelino Meneses stressed, however, that this is a battle that must be "fought by everyone," including the Government, teachers, parents and "the entire community."
 
The Secretary for Education recalled that the Regional Government implemented in the previous academic year an integrated plan to promote educational success, designated as ProSucesso - Azores for Education. Its strategy for basic education is based, among other things, on "intensive monitoring and early identification of learning difficulties to prevent them from being unrecoverable. As for secondary education, it focuses on the diversification of educational paths with the aim of finding a solution that meets the needs of every student."
 
For Avelino Meneses, the success of ProSucesso "depends on the commitment of teachers, because there is no substitute for a good teacher, the responsibility of families, which is indispensable in the education of children, and also the cooperation of developmental, civic and cultural associations."
 
In this regard, he praised the work of Norte Crescente Association, based on São Miguel, highlighting its "relevant actions" among young people insofar as its socio-educational centres "complete and, sometimes, replace the role of parents."