Avelino Meneses highlights investment in education infrastructures on São Jorge Island
The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture stated that the completion of the works underway at Calheta Basic Education and Secondary School concludes the essential interventions in terms of education infrastructure on the island of São Jorge.
Avelino Meneses spoke at the end of a visit to the works of the new Calheta Basic Education and Secondary School, held under the Government's statutory visit, stressing that Velas Basic Education and Secondary School opened recently and that Topo Basic Education School had undergone conservation works last year.
The new Calheta school, with a budget of 15.3 million Euros, has capacity for 550 students in different levels: 75 in preschool, 125 in elementary school, 250 in middle and junior high school, and 100 in secondary school. Due to the decrease of the student population, it should also accommodate students from schools near the town of Calheta.
The investment includes two buildings, the school and gymnasium, and Its construction area spreads over 13,000 square meters. It will be fitted with laboratories for science and computer classes as well as with rooms for music, technological education and artistic education classes.
The Regional Secretary emphasised that, "although facilities are not the essence of institutions," they "help a lot" in the promotion of school success.
"With functional facilities, it is easier to develop a more careful educational and scientific work with more encouraging results," said Avelino Meneses.