Paulo Estêvão praises integration of foreign students into Azorean educational community - Communication

Secretaria Regional dos Assuntos Parlamentares e Comunidades

The Regional Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs and Communities, Paulo Estêvão, stressed today that the integration of foreign students in Azorean schools is a success story. He also highlighted the "organised return" of families from the United States and Canada as well as their successful integration.

"This return is organised. It means that they already have housing and the opportunity, for many of them, to sell their property in the United States and buy it here, and so this voluntary return of families is organised. Integration will be easier as they do not face the problems of those who are deported and the consequent inconveniences," he said.

The government official spoke after a meeting this morning with two members of the School Board of Roberto Ivens Basic Education School in Ponta Delgada about the integration of students who have returned from the United States and Canada in recent months.

At Roberto Ivens School, there are three middle school students in this exact situation and one in elementary school. However, with the end of the current school year, the number of families returning to the Azores and enrolling their children in regional schools is expected to increase.

In recent months, about 30 families have returned to the Azores: in the United States, the voluntary return was due to fear of the policies pursued by the current U.S. administration, and in Canada due to the rising cost of living, stated the Regional Secretary.

"We are counting on the collaboration of institutions run by Azoreans and working with the Azorean community," he said, praising the decisive role of these institutions and thanking them for their work.

About  60 students from 15 different countries are studying at the school visited today - Brazil, Cape Verde, Ukraine, Russia and Belarus are just some of the countries represented.