The Regional Secretary for Education, Science and Culture defended in Angra do Heroísmo that "we are still on time to successfully overcome the madness that has taken over education in Portugal."

"Contrary to the centralising trend that has long been the hallmark of our educational system, we must move towards decentralisation, autonomy and the flexibility of schools," defended Luiz Fagundes Duarte. The government official spoke at the closing session of the seminar on “O Presente das Crianças…O Futuro da Sociedade” (The Present of Children ... The Future of Society), an initiative promoted by the Commission for the Protection of Children and Youth of Angra do Heroísmo.

For the Regional Secretary, "it is necessary to decentralise skills in order to adapt the educational project of each school to the specific characteristics of its environment."

Teachers and other technicians are entrusted with the mission of "playing a key role in the dissemination of knowledge and values as well as in the preparation of future generations for life and the society we all wish to build, a society of free men and women endowed with critical thinking skills."

However, Luiz Fagundes Duarte stressed that "rather than just teaching, it is also our duty to listen to those who are the centre and the goal of our professional activity."

According to the Regional Secretary for Education, Science and Culture, it is not enough "to provide the schooling of children if parents maintain low levels of education." Therefore, "the educational system should enable the development of educational projects in order allow the inclusion of all citizens in the system, boost quality and promote the dialogue between the educational system and society as a whole."

This scenario is opposed to "a system that hinders the development of innovative projects, encourages the exclusion of citizens and makes schools alienated from their environment," added the government official.

Recalling the thoughts on education and teaching in classical times, Luiz Fagundes Duarte call for the need of promoting "a school that prepares us for the future," to which society will be expected to "have a final word."