The Vice-President of the Government reiterated today in Angra do Heroísmo that "education is a key element for individual improvement as well as for the development of the Azores."
 
Speaking at the delivery ceremony of the Acquisition of Basic Skills (ABC) diplomas, Sérgio Ávila emphasised that the Government regards the qualification of the adult Azorean population as "one of the priorities and key areas for equal opportunities and social cohesion."
 
"In recent years, the country lived in a period when adult education was marginalised, there was a strong lack of investment and now covers fewer people, being almost residual. In turn, the Azores have followed the exact opposite way," said the government official.
 
In his speech, the Vice-President revealed that the "Valorizar" Network, in partnership with vocational training schools, certified 2,153 Azoreans with a basic education (9th form) or a secondary school diploma.
 
"ABC courses are a regional response, implemented in the context of our Autonomy, to the challenge of finding an efficient and effective teaching method to qualify the portion of the population with low education level," said the government official.
 
During the ceremony, Sérgio Ávila also noted that about 1,200 Azoreans were enrolled in ABC courses that are being taught on islands of S. Miguel, Terceira, Faial and Santa Maria.
 
The Vice-President also pointed out "another significant example," revealing that the 6000th diploma issued by the 'Valorizar' Network was delivered today."
 
"There is no better evidence of the hard work that has been carried out over the past years," said Sérgio Ávila.