The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture revealed in Horta that the Regional Government has already moved forward with the "necessary steps" towards the introduction of the "viola da terra" (traditional Azorean guitar) course for the secondary school level.

"As I had promised at the hearing with the Committee on Social Affairs, I have already started the necessary steps to introduce the "viola da terra" course for the secondary school level, through the establishment of an organised programme that is unlikely to be contested due to scientific or formal reasons, "said Avelino Meneses.

Speaking at the Legislative Assembly Wednesday, the Secretary for Education added that he "suggested" that the Regional Conservatory of Ponta Delgada, in conjunction with other Azorean schools that offer artistic education, should "formulate a proposal for a credible programme."

According to Avelino Meneses, the working group, which includes teachers from the Ponta Delgada Conservatory, Tomás de Borba Secondary School and the Music School of the National Conservatory, might have a final proposal by the end of the second term of this school year school.

In this regard, "it must be very clear what the Government can do or cannot do."

"There is no doubt that we have shown our willingness and offered our cooperation on the matter," said Avelino Meneses. The government official added, however, that "the approval or not of the proposal on the "viola da terra" course for the secondary school level, acknowledged nationally, depends on a fully independent external evaluation."

In his speech, Avelino Meneses reminded that the creation of the "viola da terra" course for secondary school level has already been rejected "at least three times because that instrument, as other regional musical instruments, is not included of the instruments "eligible for secondary level education." Therefore, its inclusion has to be "forcibly approved by the Ministry of Education, contrary to the musical initiation and basic courses that are regulated by the Region.

The Legislative Assembly approved Wednesday by unanimity a draft resolution on the approval of the "viola da terra" course for the secondary school level.