Avelino Meneses highlights 11% increase in funding for investment in education, culture and sport in 2016
The Regional Secretary for Education and Culture highlighted today the overall increase of 11% of funds for investment in education, culture and sport in 2016.
Avelino Meneses spoke at the end of a hearing at the Committee on Social Affair of the Legislative Assembly on the Plan and Budget proposals for 2016. He considered that this is "a positive proposal" insofar as it provides "a global investment increase of 11%," adding that this investment is evenly distributed" between the three main areas" of the Regional Secretariat for Education and Culture.
"It is important to emphasise this budget increase in education and culture, which are areas that can benefit from EU funds," said the government official.
For Avelino Meneses, "the best evidence of the Government's commitment" in the areas under the jurisdiction of the Regional Secretariat for Education and Culture "lies in that fact the increase in the funds for sport was only achieved at the expense of Regional Budget since is regarded as a negative priority from a Community perspective" and, therefore, cannot be supported by European funds.
In the area of education, the Regional Secretary highlighted the investment in three "fundamental" areas, including educational projects to "ensure the success of ProSucesso," social welfare "to provide more access opportunities to school," and the construction of schools "with the aim of completing and consolidating the regional network of schools."
As for the area of culture, Avelino Meneses added that the creation of a network of Azorean will be the main priority in order to provide "each island with a credible museum institution."
In this area, the Regional Secretary added that "there are a series of works and museums" planned for almost the entire archipelago, highlighting, among other investments, the new museum centre to be built in Vila do Porto, the recovery of the Airport Cinema and the transformation of the Airport Tower into a museum, and the construction of the Museum of Time on Corvo under the Ecomuseum project.
In the area of sport, Avelino Meneses stressed three works fully supported by the regional funds to be carried out next year: the judo hall on São Jorge, the second phase of Espírito Santo sports hall on Santa Maria, and the athletics track of João Paulo II Stadium in Angra do Heroísmo; the latter faces "the risk of losing its accreditation" if the necessary works are not carried out.
The Investment Plan of the Regional Secretary for Education and Culture for 2016 exceeds 89.6 million Euros.