SÃO MIGUEL | “The future is in the present,” recalls José Manuel Bolieiro at opening of renovation works of Rabo de Peixe school

The President of the Regional Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, recalled today that, as far as Education is concerned, “the future is in the present,” with the renovation of the Rabo de Peixe Basic Education School on the island of São Miguel representing another important step forward.

“The quality of the school justifies the investment. I believe this investment is both justified and well deserved for this educational community and, above all, for the accomplishment of the goals we have set for greater inclusion and more educational success,” declared the President of the Government.

José Manuel Bolieiro presided over the opening of the works, which represented an investment of about 20 million Euros. The ceremony was also attended by the Regional Secretary for Education and Cultural Affairs, Sofia Ribeiro, and the Regional Secretary for Tourism, Mobility and Infrastructures, Berta Cabral.

“It is for you that we are here. The students are the reason for our motivation and for the hope in our future,” the President of the Government stressed, addressing dozens of students after a visit to the school, which was opened today. 

“It is a sound structure that will help teachers in their teaching mission and students in their learning mission to find a suitable environment,” José Manuel Bolieiro also considered.

The President of the Government also offered left words of encouragement to “the school boards, teachers and students who made the history” of the school, reminding that Education “has been the top priority of this Government from the very beginning.”

The investment goals were mainly focused on upgrading the school building according to the needs and wishes of a pro-urban community. They were also intended to provide it with a school complex designed and equipped for the various aspects, anticipating new forms of sociability, inclusive modes of mobility in the field of technology and information, and a learning environment with an impact on personal and collective life.

The works were carried out without causing constraints to the operation of the Sports Hall consisting of a swimming pool and a gymnasium as well as to the kindergarten, elementary school and special education buildings. The middle school and junior high school levels 2nd were accommodated in a provisional school made up of prefabricated buildings, all in perfect condition for the use and safety of the school population.

The new school consists of 48 rooms, including science and physical-chemistry laboratories; computer and technology education rooms; music rooms, culinary rooms and regular classrooms; a students’ common room and a students’ association room; rooms for carpentry, ceramics, mechanics and electrical engineering classes.

The building also features an auditorium, a library, offices for teachers, an administrative area, a kitchen, a cafeteria and a space for the installation of a resource centre.

There are now three new sports areas within the school, including an athletics track.

GRA/RÁDIOILHÉU