The Vila Real de Santo António Chamber (VRSA) carried out works in several Basic Education (EB) schools in the municipality and plans to invest around one million euros in the education sector this academic year.
At the EB1 Caldeira Alexandre school (north building), floor renovation work was carried out in 8 rooms at EB1, costing 30 thousand euros.
At EB1/JI Santo António, the playground floor was replaced, a project valued at 51 thousand euros, which «allowed the installation of a new floor with technical conditions of greater durability and resistance», according to the VRSA Chamber.
«In order to increase thermal comfort levels for students and teachers, several air conditioning units were installed in 1st cycle rooms, in an investment of around 10 thousand euros», he added.
The municipality also invested 10 thousand euros in expanding and requalifying the Structured Education Unit at EB 1 Caldeira Alexandre, «adapting it to the current needs and requirements of Inclusive Education».
This investment, explains the Chamber, was due to «the increase in students using the Structured Teaching Unit – and with a view to promoting the development of more effective therapies, namely the Snoezelen Approach».
Computer equipment was also modernized, with “computers, projectors and monitors being purchased for primary schools, in an investment of around 1 thousand euros”.
At the same time, the municipality and the Parish Councils carried out several improvement interventions in the various school buildings in the municipality, particularly in terms of painting, electrical repairs, plumbing, among others.
Much more substantial was the investment made in human resources, which amounted to around 600 thousand euros, but which allowed the municipality of VRSA to start the school year «with a significant increase in Operational Assistants in all schools, complying with the established ratios .
«Considering that many households in the municipality have a fragile economic condition and difficulties in acquiring supplementary study books - which are suggested by teachers to improve student performance -, the municipality decided to extend the legally foreseen allocation within the scope of social action school and will support 775 students in the 1st cycle of Basic Education in the public network in purchasing card books. The investment amounts to 32 thousand euros", said the VRSA Chamber.
Still in this context, the municipality will allocate, «to all pre-school and 1st cycle classrooms, a kit of teaching and wear materials, worth approximately 150 euros per classroom, in order to allow teachers to develop activities with students, without the need for constant recourse to Parents. The measure represents a commitment of around 6 thousand euros and the material is already being delivered to schools».
At the same time, the VRSA municipality continues to guarantee «the management of school cafeterias, the management of school transport, including adapted transport for students with specific needs, the development of Curricular Enrichment Activities in the 1st cycle (investment of 110 thousand euros), the promotion of school social action measures and the coverage of all expenses inherent to the operation of the municipality's educational establishments».
For the 2023/2024 academic year, the VRSA Chamber also offers a set of activities that promote and enrich knowledge in various areas of knowledge, aimed at classes at all levels of education, in order to complement student learning.
The activities proposed in the «Educational Offer 2023/2024» focus on different areas of knowledge and are guided by the universality of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
With the aim of promoting pedagogical interdisciplinarity and supporting Early Childhood Educators in the public network, the municipality will promote, in pre-school education, activities that complement the curriculum, promoted by technicians with specific training in the fields of music, physical activity and dramatic expression. This measure involves a global investment of around 20 thousand euros.
«The start of another school year marks the beginning of new challenges and opportunities, so we want to ensure that all children and their families feel supported on this journey. These measures reflect our commitment to the education and well-being of our children and young people and constitute clear support for the population of the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António in the current economic context», stated Álvaro Araújo, president of the VRSA Chamber.
«With these actions, the municipality of Vila Real de Santo António reaffirms its availability to work in close collaboration with schools, parents and the community in general, promoting academic success and providing an enriching learning environment», he concluded.
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