The Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, participated this morning in the opening session of the Education Conference in Santa Maria da Feira "From the School We Have to the School We Want", which takes place today and tomorrow at the Municipal Library, under the theme “Educating in Networks”. In his speech, the official acknowledged the quality of work developed in Santa Maria da Feira in the educational sector, pointing it out as one of the reasons for his presence in the municipality. He highlighted the feirense community's capacity to “work in networks” and “build the thread that unites us all”, stating that "in many dimensions, I know that you are an example for the country".
Fernando Alexandre also valued the involvement of families in educational projects, highlighting the Federation of Associations of Parents of Santa Maria da Feira. He reaffirmed equal opportunities as the central mission of public education, considering that "school is the most important institution for guaranteeing equal opportunities" and that "education is the great hope we have to improve the life of each citizen".
For his part, the president of the Municipal Chamber, Amadeu Albergaria, reaffirmed Education as a priority for the executive, highlighting investment in the construction and requalification of school facilities and in improving learning conditions. He stressed the importance of joint work between schools, families, institutions, and the Municipality, and conveyed a message about the collective responsibility of educating: “In a world concerned with the 'I', here we are, aware that only the 'we', only the 'we', educates a child.”
Amadeu Albergaria also highlighted the work developed by the Municipality in the area of education, particularly new investment projects and requalification of school facilities, the preparation of new school centers, and the defense of education as a priority in the next community support framework. He also underlined the importance of evaluating the process of decentralizing competences in education and of dialogue among the different stakeholders in the sector.
The session also included an intervention by Hugo Paiva, president of the Federation of Associations of Parents of Santa Maria da Feira (FAP Feira). Inclusion, mental health, and networked work are the main axes of this edition, which brings together specialists, researchers, and education professionals. The program includes debates, workshops, and the presentation of the project “Educar para Transformar”, from Vila Verde. Tomorrow, the panel “Nobody Educates Alone” will close the proceedings, followed by the closing session at 13h00, with Beatriz Silva, councilor for the Department of Education and Youth.
