The Regional Secretary for Education, Science and Culture defended that the Azores want to promote an "inclusive school" that takes into consideration the difficulties of students.

Luiz Fagundes Duarte stressed that in addition to the "Oportunidades" Programme, which supports the integration of students with special education needs (students with physical disabilities) in regular classes, the Azores have extended the "Fénix" project and promoted the creation of three multidisciplinary teams, with Portuguese and Mathematics Teachers, in order to combat school failure.

However, the Regional Secretary recognised that "the problem of school failure cannot be solved in just a year." Before the results made public that have ranked the Azores in the last places of the national ranking, we must use all available means to improve school results.

Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting with the Standing Committee of Regional Public School Establishments, Luiz Fagundes Duarte revealed that the Azores will not enforce the national legislation that requires teachers to take exams.

Teachers' training is already certified by school establishments, being duly acknowledged. In the case of the Azores, additional training will be provided to teachers whenever necessary so that they may be provided with the necessary tools to overcome the difficulties they might face in their workplaces.

For that reason, the Government also intends to ensure the stability to regional teaching staff, with the opening of teacher applications every four years, added Luiz Fagundes Duarte.

The Regional Secretary for Education, Science and Culture also restated that the number of teachers providing support to students with special education needs is roughly "three times higher" than that established by school statutes.

Given the increasing number of students with special education needs, Luiz Fagundes Duarte revealed that technicians are already on the field to analyse this issue.