The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture stated in Horta that, next year, the Azores could be "very close" to the completion of the regional school networks in terms of construction.
Avelino Meneses spoke at the Legislative Assembly during the hearings on the proposals for the Plan and Budget for the coming year, announcing that works in Calheta School on S. Jorge and Canto da Maia School in Ponta Delgada will be completed by 2019.
Besides the ongoing works in Capelas School on S. Miguel, the tender for the works in Rabo de Peixe School has already been launched and the project of Arrifes School is under revision. As he also mentioned, the rehabilitation project of Lagoa Basic Education School on S. Miguel is also under analysis.
For the Secretary for Education, after the completion of these works, which will not take place at the same time, the regional school network will be "effectively" completed.
In spite of these works, the Azorean Government will continue to "fundamentally invest in the repair and restoration" of schools that "have not undergone interventions for some time," having directed three million Euros for this purpose, said Avelino Meneses.
The Regional Secretary also emphasised that, in the area of culture, the Region "is very close" to achieving the "central purpose" of endowing each of islands with a museum unit of reference.
This purpose, he added, is about to be reached with the opening of the Vila do Porto Museum Centre last summer, the opening of the Time Museum on Corvo shortly, and the beginning of the construction of the new premises of Francisco de Lacerda Museum on S. Jorge.
In addition to these projects, the Regional Secretary also highlighted the launch of the second phase of the works of the Carlos Machado Museum in S. Miguel, the recovery of Santa Maria Airport Tower and Cinema, and the project for the Shipbuilding Construction on Pico.
As for sport, in addition to the increase of 250 thousand Euros for investment next year, Avelino Meneses stressed the interventions carried out by the Regional Government in S. Miguel Stadium, providing it with the necessary conditions for holding games of the Premier League, which includes the Santa Clara team.