‘The more training we have, the more developed our territory will be.’ It was with this conviction that the Mayor of Vila Nova de Famalicão, Mário Passos, highlighted the municipality's strategic commitment to adult education during the formal diploma award ceremony held by Centro Qualifica, which honoured 151 residents of Famalicão at Casa das Artes.
The ceremony, which took place on Tuesday, marked the culmination of training courses carried out through the Process of Recognition, Validation and Certification of Competences (RVCC), with the awarding of 9th and 12th grade diplomas, as well as professional certifications, reinforcing the role of education as a driver of economic and social development in the municipality.
In his speech, Mário Passos praised the attitude and determination of the graduates. ‘You could have been complacent, with a stable routine, but you showed audacity, daring and courage.’ For the mayor, the personal investment of each graduate has a direct impact on the community, noting that ‘education is a cornerstone of the economic and social development system of our municipality’.
Miguel Silva, director of the Adult Education Department at the National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Education (ANQEP), praised the dynamism of Vila Nova de Famalicão and its ‘very active contribution to the regions, communities and the country’. He also highlighted the Qualifica Programme, which he described as a ‘success story’, noting that Portugal already has indicators of adult participation and prevention of early school leaving above the European average.
The figures highlight the dynamism of the Qualifica Centre in Vila Nova de Famalicão, which last year certified 228 adults through the RVCC and more than 2,600 through other training modalities, such as EFA courses and modular training. The commitment also extends to the senior population, with 328 students involved in digital and artistic skills development initiatives, reinforcing the vision that learning should accompany all stages of life.
The representative of the Vila Nova de Famalicão Employment Service and the school principals of the Padre Benjamim Salgado, D. Sancho I and Camilo Castelo Branco School Groups, symbolising the cooperation network that supports local qualification policies, also attended the ceremony.
