"Educational reform with a focus on strengthening languages and the digital transition of the educational system" - Amadeu Cruz

The Minister of Education, Amadeu Cruz, made this consideration when presiding today, September 25th, at the official launch ceremony of the Akelius Project, in the municipality of São Domingos, Santiago island.

Amadeu Cruz said that based on these two assumptions, the Ministry of Education is working on creating conditions for digital laboratories to exist in the country's various schools, to support language teaching.

We are now starting, with the support of Unicef and an Akelius Foundation, the implementation of this important project, taking into account that mastery of languages is very important for new generations. “Our young people need to master Portuguese as the national language of official and formal communication, but also English, French and other languages, because they are fundamental for the insertion of young Cape Verdeans into international dynamics”, highlighted the Minister.

In this sense, the governor said that the Government values the Akelius Project, which will allow the use of pedagogical support instruments for language teaching, but also to facilitate the integration of students who have learning difficulties, in terms of hearing, understanding is necessary that there are mechanisms for disseminating language teaching techniques.

It should be noted that the Akelius Project is the result of a partnership between UNICEF and the Swedish Akelius Foundation and its objectives are: to facilitate and reinforce the continuous learning of the Portuguese language and foreign languages by primary school children, particularly those with learning delays and live in disadvantaged contexts, allowing them to develop reading and writing skills through the Akelius app, for digital learning of Portuguese, English and French.

This academic year, the first phase of the effective implementation of the project begins, covering students in the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th years of schooling at five basic schools, one in Praia (SOS school), one in São Domingos (Milho school Branco), another in Ribeira Grande de Santiago (São Martinho Grande) and two others in Santa Maria, Sal island.