The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture stated today that the teaching of themes and context about the Azores history, geography and culture "is assured" in middle school and junior high school levels of the Regional Education System.
 
Avelino Meneses spoke at the Legislative Assembly, defending that the debate of projects amending the law that establishes the guiding principles of curricular organisation and management of basic education for the Regional Educational System "may not be necessary." The same applies to the introduction of the subjects of History, Geography and Culture of the Azores.
 
Despite the fact that the projects under discussion "will not increase" school hours in the middle school and junior high school levels, the Regional Secretary stressed that the Government has chosen "not the create a new subject, but rather an in-depth revision of the basic education curriculum." According to him, this matter "will require greater attention in due time."
 
"We maintain our belief that the increase of school interventions generates greater dispersion of students' interests," added the government official.
 
For Avelino Meneses, it would be "good" if we could reach an agreement "on what is essential, that is, the teaching of updated contents about the history, geography and culture of the Azores to our students" and condescend "on what is accessory, i.e., the curricular adaptation of the subjects related" to these areas of knowledge.
 
The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture has justified the decision of not adding "another subject to the curriculum in the arguments of the Scientific and Education Commission, taking into consideration the existence of a high number of subjects: 10 in middle school and 13 in junior high school." This body was created with the purpose of hearing teachers and schools on this matter.
 
Instead of creating a new subject, the option was to include new contents in the non-subject curricular area of Citizenship, which otherwise would result in "loss" to Azorean middle school and junior high school students who already have "more school hours than those in Mainland Portugal," said Avelino Meneses. In addition, the multiplication of areas of intervention would cause "dispersion in the concentration and interest of students."
 
"It is appropriate to introduce themes and contents about the history, geography and culture of the Azores in the non-subject curricular area of Citizenship which, as provided in the curricular framework for basic education in the Azores, emphasises the promotion of our historical and natural values as indispensable to understanding the concept of 'Azoreanity'," said the government official.
 
Avelino Meneses added that the Regional Directorate for Education has been working with the University of the Azores in the development of an appropriate training plan, whose first phase will start in month of July. The initiative will involve the participation of the 31 school establishments providing middle school and junior high school education. The materials produced under this training will be later available in the appropriate platform.