The President of the Government chaired today the opening of the Vocational training School of INETESE - Institute of Technical Education in Lagoa, where he announced that the investment in training will cover about 18 thousand Azorean workers by the end of next year.
 
"I can announce that, by the end of next year, we will invest in this area, providing training to about 18 thousand Azorean workers. They will have the opportunity to improve the performance of their duties, increase professional achievement and, consequently, boost the success of our companies," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
The President of the Government spoke at the opening of this vocational training institute located in the city of Lagoa. Considering the importance of professional qualification for the competitiveness of regional economy, he stressed that more than half a million euros were allocated to vocational training in 2017 and 2018, through the Azores Operational Programme, covering 3,700 Azorean workers.
 
After emphasising the initiative of Lagoa City Council to reinforce the proximity training offer in the municipality, Vasco Cordeiro also stated that the promotion of new skills among Azorean workers is a fundamental pillar for raising the level of employability in the Region. In order to achieve its full potential, this strategy requites the strengthening of partnerships between public and private entities.
 
"In this regard, we have tried to reinforce coordination with vocational training schools so that they may be able to adapt their training offer to the needs of the regional labour market," stated the government official.
 
According to him, the Government of the Azores has thus made a commitment to active employment policies, also focusing on vocational training, as a tool to reinforce the employability of Azorean while strengthening the competitiveness of companies.
 
"It is enough to mention that this commitment to vocational training represented a public investment of nearly 100 million Euros from 2014 to 2018.  In fact, this investment has enabled more than 8,300 young people and unemployed to improve their professional qualifications over the last four years. Hence, they are now better prepared to enter the labour market," said the President of the Government.
 
According to Vasco Cordeiro, the evidence that training is an essential tool for getting a first job or a better job. Since 2014, the employability rate of students who completed vocational training courses or Reativar courses has been growing every year.
 
"The regional employability rate for vocational education stands at nearly 70 percent, according to the latest data submitted to Eurostat," said Vasco Cordeiro.
 
In his speech, the President of the Government also stressed the need for public and private entities and, above all, citizens to promote a qualification-oriented culture.
 
"This is a responsibility assigned to each one of us.  A more qualified society starts in each Azorean family. If we value training, qualification and education, we will be providing a fundamental contribution to turn it into a reality in our Region," concluded the President of the Government.