The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture stressed in Ponta Delgada that education is "naturally a priority" for the Regional Government, noting that the recently approved 2020 Plan provides for a "larger investment" compared to this year.
 
Avelino Meneses spoke Tuesday at the delivery ceremony of merit diplomas to students from Domingos Rebelo Secondary School. On the occasion, he stated that the agents of the regional education system can "wait for a general improvement of conditions," which will cover students, teachers, employees and facilities.
 
According to the Secretary for Education, these "improvements" specifically include social support for students, through the provision of transport, food, textbooks and other materials to guarantee that "everyone is on a more equal footing" and that "no one will be left behind."
 
Improvements will also be made in the "professional development of teachers," as a result of the recognition of teachers' length of service, in the recruitment of non-teaching staff, with the recent opening of 247 vacancies, as well as in the construction and maintenance of school facilities, which "are about to complete" the regional programme for school buildings.
 
Moreover, Avelino Meneses noted that the analysis of figures "also demonstrates the overall improvement of results," which "forecasts the achievement of the targets set for 2025-26 at the end of the ProSucesso programme".
 
In this regard, he pointed out that the progression rate in regular education in 2013-2014, before the creation and implementation of the programme for the promotion of school success, stood at 81%, while last year it was at 90% (+9%).
 
In the same period and under similar conditions, the progression rate in vocational education was at 79% and last school year it stood at 86% (+7%). In turn, the education recovery programmes registered a progression of 38% and that increased to 68% in the last school year (+30%), stated the Regional Secretary.
 
"This is unequivocal evidence of the fight against school failure," the government official stressed, adding that "the most effective strategies to combat poverty and promote citizenship are the schooling of peoples," which should begin in "early childhood and continue throughout life."