The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture stated in Lisbon that the short experience of the EPIS programme (Entrepreneurs for Social Inclusion), which registered an increase of 800% regarding the adherence of regional schools this school year, "does not allow us to make a definitive balance."

Avelino Meneses spoke on the sidelines of the "EPIS 2015 Meeting - Building the Future," an event that was the purpose of assessing the activities carried out under this programme in Mainland Portugal since 2006. In this context, the government official conveyed his expectation that the "EPIS experiences will increase" in the Azores in the next school year under the implementation of ProSucesso - Plan for the Promotion of School Success.

"In the Azores, the EPIS initiative has a short story that does not allow us to assess its activities. It started with a pioneering experience in Madalena, Pico Island, in 2013/2014 and was extended this school year to eight schools on S. Miguel and Terceira," said the government official.

According to the Regional Secretary, "this year was mainly focused on the conduction of diagnostic testing." However, there has "some signs of improvement" in the 600 students who are being followed-up by EPIS mediators in the Region, "both in terms of school attendance and success."

As for the purpose of the EPIS mission, Avelino Meneses stressed that "in the past a degree was a life solution, but, nowadays, a degree is no longer a life solution; it is rather a tool for the construction of a successful career.

"Training is always the best protection of young citizens in the society of the future. Therefore, it is important to instil in the minds of youngsters the belief that it is worth studying," said the government official.

"At a time of extended compulsory education, this is a daunting task because the motivation of some embraced by luck will coexist with the lack of motivation of many, who are victims of neglect and helplessness."

However, the Regional Secretary stressed that "a democratic society is a society that does not allow exclusion and it is in this context that the relevance of EPIS mediators stands out."

"Working in conjunction with schools, families and communities, they provide reliability, methodologies and autonomy to students at risk and contribute to the promotion of success," the government official said, adding that "they are the harbingers of a better society."