The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture stressed in Ponta Delgada the achievement of "encouraging results" regarding the teaching of Mathematics in the Azores in the last two years.
 
Avelino Meneses spoke at the prize-delivery ceremony of the 8th Regional Championship of Mathematical Games. The government official stressed that the Azores registered in the school years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 a "decrease in the awarding of insufficient and sufficient grades" as well as an "increase in the awarding of good and very good grades."
 
"All help is precious," said the Regional Secretary for Education. In this regard, he stressed the action developed by AMIL - Association of Interactive and Lucid Mathematics, the entity responsible for the organisation of the Regional Championship of Mathematical Games. It is located near the University of the Azores campus on São Miguel Island.
 
In this context, he pointed out that the Region has been developing a project on the teaching of Mathematics in elementary and middle school, through the "Singapore Method," in partnership with the University of the Azores.
 
In his speech delivered at the ceremony, Avelino Meneses stressed that, together, we are still "not enough" to improve the teaching of Mathematics not only "for the benefit of students' school success," but also for the benefit of "the progress of the Region and the country."
 
In spite being "somewhat theoretical," Mathematics has "undeniable usefulness," the Regional Secretary said, adding that this aspect is quite "evident in the History of Portugal."
 
The Regional Secretary recalled the influence of mathematics and the knowledge of Pedro Nunes about maritime navigation, which subsequently influenced the Portuguese expansion in the 15th and 16th centuries. Moreover, he highlighted the future role of Mathematics and other sciences "in the global society, whose greatest asset lies in the access to knowledge."
 
For this reason, the Azores created the ProSucesso programme - Integrated Plan for the Promotion of School Success. This initiative aims to help Azorean students completing compulsory education "in due time and promote the necessary learning," stated Avelino Meneses.