The Regional Secretary for Education and Training said on Faial that the contract work for major repair works of Horta Basic Education School. The ceremony of laying the first stone which she presided over today marks the end of the "school construction works."

With the start-up of this work, which will increase the school's capacity for 700 students, we close "the school construction works” on Faial and "we assumed the special responsibility of providing students with the conditions our generation did not have," said Cláudia Cardoso.

According to the government official, the Government of the Azores, by building another school in Horta, ensures a "continuous" investment in school infrastructures in the archipelago "while the National Government has stopped works in progress and even cancelled those that were about to start."

For Cláudia Cardoso, the "Regional Governments led by PS have been pioneers in creating a school network of excellence" as evidenced by the beginning of the construction works of the new Horta Basic Education School, "which closes the need for intervention in the school network on Faial island."

In addition to improving the school network, the government official said that the Government aims, above all, "to create the conditions to foster school success and the full integration of children and youngsters, thus contributing to their motivation and qualification as well as to the improvement of school."

As the Regional Secretary for Education and Training indicated, the contract work for the major repair works of Horta Basic Education School has an estimated budget of 7.2 million Euros and an execution period of 18 months. The works will be concluded by the end of 2013.

Cláudia Cardoso also stressed that the contract work was awarded to a regional company, in consortium, which "allows to ensure the Region's economic growth and the maintenance of jobs in the construction sector."

With regard to the architecture project for Horta Basic Education School, the government official stressed that it "combines perfectly the integration of historical heritage with modernity and functionality of the building, which comprises artistic education."

Cláudia Cardoso stressed that the Government has maintained the "option of restructuring the school network of the regional educational system," adding that this investment "is evidenced by the renewal of the South Building of Domingos Rebelo Secondary School, the expansion of Angra do Heroísmo Basic Education School, the construction of the new Água de Pau Basic Education School, the renewal of Rabo de Peixe Basic Education School and the construction of Ponta Garça and Francisco Ferreira Drummond Basic Education Schools.

After defending the Government's commitment "in a more democratic and democratic educational system that integrates differences and promotes equality," the Regional Secretary of Education and Training noted that the Government has advocated "a clear assertion of knowledge, education and citizenship, using its energies against the weakening of the State's role in education."

"We know that a quality education is a fundamental pillar for the growth and development of communities; therefore, we will continue to provide Azorean schools with new equipments and teaching resources that support a teaching practice more suitable to the demands of today," promised Cláudia Cardoso.

The government official also said that the investment made by the Azorean Government "is a clear promotion in educational development, which has greatly contributed to make the regional educational a national reference."

In fact, Cláudia Cardoso defended that what the Government of the Republic "announced as structural measures have been reality in the Azores long ago," such as the "commitment to the stability of human resources, investment in training and professional development, social support to students, diversification of school paths, implementation of monitoring and evaluation devices for the educational system and the improvement school autonomy."

Stressing that "there are few similarities between the regional educational system of today and the one in force over a decade ago," the Regional Secretary for Education and Training pointed the autonomy of school, the reduction of absenteeism and the digital school project as examples of successful policies conducted by the Government in this area.

Cláudia Cardoso also announced the Government's intention to "establish guidelines for restructuring the school network and rules on the enrolment and distribution of students, creation of courses and preparation of timetables.”

"We will also reorganise the school work in order to facilitate the completion of compulsory schooling and optimise learning experiences," said the official, who took the opportunity to announce the reduction of the maximum number of students per class, starting in September.

"This measure is even more important when we see the number of students per class increasing in Mainland Portugal, the abrupt grouping of schools and the 864 million Euro cut in the State Budget that represents a step backwards within the European Union in terms of investment in education. The expenditure in this sector will now represent 3.8% of the national GDP compared to the 5% in 2010, which will bring more difficulties to teachers and jeopardise the future of education nationwide," emphasised the Regional Secretary.

Instead, concluded Cláudia Cardoso, the Regional Government of the Azores "has developed an investment plan in education that approximately represents 20% of the Region's global investment for 2012."