"As of 12 April, around 58,000 students will be in circulation, and in greater concentration, so, after 14 days, we will assess the impacts of this decision", declared Miguel Albuquerque in the monthly debate that takes place in the Assembly Madeira Legislative.

The leader of the Madeira executive spoke about the implications of restarting, on 8 April, the face-to-face classes for about 7,000 students.

Next Monday, 8,700 3rd cycle students will also return to face-to-face education.

These students, from secondary and 3rd cycle, represent 15,000 students, out of a universe of 52,000 existing in the region, who have been distance learning since 11 January.

To the deputies, the head of the island government stressed that the regional authorities "must continue to manage the [pandemic] situation of uncertainty" and, "with the reopening of all cycles, it is evident that, almost certainly, this will have repercussions on the number of covid-19 cases in the coming weeks".

The official stressed that in Madeira "there was no school interruption as happened in the mainland" and "the connection with schools and learning systems was maintained".

Miguel Albuquerque pointed out that, in the last school term, the goal is "to guarantee, in safe conditions, face-to-face classes for students in the 3rd cycle and secondary education, thus covering the entire school universe in the region".

"All educational establishments have a contingency plan" and have "preventive and prophylactic rules in force that will be fully complied with", he said.

"The truth is that, despite the difficulties of the times in which we live, it is demonstrated that Madeira has an educational system capable of ensuring, at all times, universal access to Education even in the middle of a pandemic", he stressed.

The government official pointed out that the region also "planned the vaccination of all professionals from public and private schools in a timely manner - teachers, assistants, technicians and other employees".