The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture stated in Água de Pau that schools, in addition to being a "dream factory," as defined by a large number of Azorean students, are also "a tool for the fulfilment of dreams."
Avelino Meneses spoke at the delivery of prizes of the ProSucesso Video Contest, designated as "What is school for you?" According to him, schools "are in today's society the only tool capable of transforming all of our dreams into reality."
In his speech, Avelino Meneses alluded to schools as "the house of knowledge," stressing that "knowledge is now the mainstay of almost everything, perhaps the pillar of health, wealth and happiness."
In this regard, the Secretary for Education highlighted the investment in ProSucesso - Azores for Education, integrated plan to promote success at school, so that "no one is left behind and everyone gets knowledge."
The Regional Secretary also conveyed his expectation that Azorean schools will create "professionals, possibly scientists," who will be capable of contributing to the development of society, but above all to "come out as citizens who confer dignity to the exercise of political activities." Only then, we will be able to regain "belief in the purpose of Democracy."
For Avelino Meneses, "to succeed in school is to succeed in life." He emphasising that, for this purpose, it is necessary "to work on a daily basis" and with "the help of all," from managers to teachers, families and the community.
"What is school for you?" is an initiative developed by the Regional Directorate for Education under the ProSucesso - Azores for Education. It is primarily intended to raise the awareness of students for the importance of school and motivate them to artistic creation through the creative use of new technologies.
The initiative, which involved the participation of 33 projects from 10 schools, was directed to junior high school students (level A) and secondary school students (level B) enrolled in regional public and private schools.
João Pedro de Lima Medeiros, Francisca Araújo Craveiro and Marta Bizarro Cabral, 9th form students enrolled at Água de Pau Basic Education School, were the winners of level A category. In turn, Isabela Luna Raposo Quadrado, Joana Moura Lisboa and Talia Dias Batista Machado, 10th form students attending Santa Maria, won in the level B category.