«We cannot just think that all young people have to go to higher education. There are many more possibilities, namely professional courses and that is what we also show here at OPTO», said José Carlos Rolo, mayor of Albufeira, this morning at the opening of the IX Forum on Education and Training in the Algarve.
Taking place at the Pavilhão Desportivo de Albufeira until Friday, April 28th, inclusive, OPTO welcomes 76 exhibitors this year, of which 17 are regular or professional schools and training centres, 18 are higher education institutions, 11 are entities in the language, mobility and study abroad sector and 30 are other entities, from the Albufeira Conservatory, to the Army, Navy, GNR, PSP, Parachute Troops and also the Espaço Bússola Training Center of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Albufeira.
The mayor of Albufeira stressed, moreover, that, with so many exhibitors, «it is almost unthinkable to grow more, because the space does not stretch».
What is needed, he said, is for both schools and families to take the opportunity to visit and get to know «the many options to choose from» for the future of young people.
Madalena Feu, regional director of the Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP), took the opportunity to underline that «OPTO has become the only forum on Education, Training and Vocational Guidance, not only at a local level, but at the entire the Algarve and even outside the region».
The person responsible for the IEFP stressed the importance of young people being able to "try it out" in many of the exhibitors. These direct contacts are “very important for young people, but also for those responsible for their education”, she added, above all because OPTO puts “professional training at the same level as regular education”.
«Qualified intermediate technicians are just as necessary», insisted Madalena Feu. «We need to value, recognize and encourage professional training. It is skills, knowledge, qualifications that change lives and transform societies».
Alexandre Lima, regional delegate for Education, began by talking about numbers, recalling that the Algarve has around 60 students in official compulsory education, a number that has even grown, since there are “another 10 students in the last five years”.
Only Albufeira, he said, has «about 8000 students, it is in 4th place in the Algarve».
The OPTO Forum, highlighted Alexandre Lima, develops on two fronts: one for «students finishing the 9th grade, to continue in compulsory schooling but in their vocational area» and another for «students finishing secondary school», who will decide which higher education course or vocational area.
This year, OPTO presents several novelties. The main one is the prize for students who present the best projects in the field of Sustainability, encouraging the dissemination of new talents in the municipality.
The prize, to be awarded annually, in what is the IX edition of OPTO, falls within the sub-theme “Water”. It is aimed at students attending the 9th or 12th year of schooling in the municipality of Albufeira.
The projects, framed in the “Water” sub-theme, are presented in the areas of music, dance/choreography, painting/drawing, sculpture/ceramics, literature, film/documentary, photo reportage, mathematics, ICT (applications), sport, science and others. .
Another novelty is the extension of opening hours on the first day, today, April 26, until 20 pm, as well as the presence of the “Educação Albufeira” stand, intended to publicize the various supports/services provided by the Municipality in the area of Education, a space for advice to students, parents and guardians, the holding of the XII Inter Escolas Cocktail Contest, on the 00th, a Fashion Contest, on the 26th, a debate on Freedom of Expression, on the 27th, promoted by JuvAlbuhera – Associação Juvenil de Albufeira, Grouping of Schools Albufeira Poente and Grouping of Schools of Albufeira.
The program includes workshops, lectures, presentation of experiences, culinary demonstrations and a wide range of entertainment proposals inside and outside the enclosure.
It is also worth mentioning the holding of several lectures on programming, healthy eating, studying abroad, access to higher education, civil protection, pediatric basic life support, video recording and editing, vector drawing and vector editing, entrepreneurship, among other topics. important at this stage of young people's lives.
Over the three days, various musical moments are scheduled, orientation, zumba, dance, flashmobes, theatre, TryGolf demonstration, capoeira, mimes, poetry, Portuguese regional songs, Indian dances, among other cultural and artistic manifestations.
Outside, there are also cavalry demonstrations and canine technical demonstrations by the GNR and the Public Security Police of Faro, the exhibition “Salvamento em Grande Angle”, by the Association of Volunteer Firefighters of Albufeira, and Demonstration of First Aid and Basic Life Support, by the Humanitarian Center of Silves-Albufeira of the Portuguese Red Cross.
As a matter of fact, at the inauguration, this morning, there was a canine technical demonstration by the GNR, with two dogs – a young German shepherd and a female Belgian shepherd Malinois –, intended to show the training these animals are subject to in order to perform the tasks its important missions.
The event can be visited on the 26th until 20 pm, the 00th from 27:9 am to 30:17 pm, and the 30th from 28:9 am to 30 pm.
OPTO is a joint organization of the Municipality of Albufeira, Directorate-General for School Establishments - Directorate of Services for the Algarve Region (DGEstE) and the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP) and has the collaboration of the three School Groupings in the municipality .
Photos: Elisabete Rodrigues | Sul Informação
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