Authorized additional purchase of digital manuals in the Azores

O The Council of the Government of the Azores today approved the additional purchase of digital manuals for schools in the region and the allocation of EUR 1.25 million to the University of the Azores for the hiring of PhD students.

In a statement, the Azorean executive reveals that he has adopted a resolution that “authorizes the complementary acquisition of digital manuals and related goods for the organic units of the regional education system”, without presenting any values or other information.

In early October, the Union of Teachers of the Azores Region (SPRA) said that there were still students without access to digital textbooks, claiming that the Regional Education Directorate did not make available all the number of licenses and equipment requested by schools.

“This puts students and classes in inequality. The schools were instructed by the regional management to distribute the licenses and equipment they had to students and classes. Well, but if they don't have it for everyone, who will they distribute it to? Then the executive councils were responsible for deciding, when the guardianship has to decide”, denounced the president of the SPRA, Fernando Vicente.

The Government Council also approved the allocation of financial support to the University of the Azores for the hiring of PhD students.

“ The financial support, amounting to EUR 1.25 million, aims to contribute, for a maximum period of five years, the costs resulting from the hiring of doctorates that contribute to the development of research, education, advanced training, enhancement and dissemination of knowledge and technology transfer in areas relevant to regional development”, reads in the statement.

A resolution authorising the granting of financial support, up to EUR 4 million, to regional non-profit associations that aim at agricultural, agri-food or forestry development was also adopted.

The Azorean executive decided to authorize the opening of a procedure for the adaptation and requalification of the property intended for the installation of the new headquarters of the Agency for the Modernization and Quality of the Citizen Service of the Integrated Citizen Support Network (RIAC) in Angra do Heroísmo.

According to the Regional Government, “the undertaking, with a base value of around EUR 477,000, aims to improve working conditions and public service” and the move to the new facilities “will enable permanent savings to be generated at the level of rent charges”.

The Regional Regulatory Decree defining the organic and the management staff of the Regional Civil Protection and Fire Department of the Azores was also approved.

The Governing Council also decided to terminate the contractual position in the Contract for the Management and Exploration of the Industrial Park of Terceira Island, concluded between the Autonomous Region of the Azores and AGESPI (association that manages the park), in favour of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Angra do Heroísmo.

Finally, it approved the final free grant of a property to Judo Clube de Ponta Delgada, for the expansion of its sports facilities.