Yesterday, 211 people from Famalicão received diplomas and certificates for increasing their qualifications through the Famalicão Qualifica Centre. Since it began operating in 2014, the Qualifica Centre has referred and accompanied more than 12,000 adults to qualifying training offers.

This is the case of Vítor Brito, a firefighter by profession, who completed the 12th grade through the Qualifica Centre.

‘As well as personal satisfaction, the qualifications will open new doors for me to improve my professional conditions and progress in my career.’ 

Carla Pereira also completed her secondary education through Qualifica. ‘I got out of my comfort zone, there was a lot I didn't know, and now that I've finished this course I feel fulfilled and very keen to continue studying.’  

The numbers for Famalicão's Qualifica Centre were praised by the National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Education (ANQEP). At the ceremony, Ana Cláudia Valente, representing ANQEP, emphasised the involvement of the municipality and the networking carried out in Famalicão as a good example of the way forward.

‘Portugal is below the European Union average in terms of qualifications and we suffer from a structural qualification deficit,’ which is being tackled with actions such as those that the Qualifica Centres are putting in place.

‘Seeing more than 200 adults here receiving a certificate is validation that we're doing a good job,’ he added.

Operating since 2014, Famalicão's Qualifica Centre has already trained and validated more than 1,400 adults in RVCC processes and more than 11,000 citizens certified in qualifying training.

‘It's a strategic bet by the municipality because the indicators are objective: with more qualifications we have better employment and there's a direct relationship with qualification levels, with wage levels and also with more development in the territory,’ said the mayor, Mário Passos.

The ceremony filled the Casa das Artes in Famalicão, with the certified adults and their families receiving a challenge from the mayor: ‘Don't stop here and continue with ambition, with objectives and goals’, concluding that ‘with more qualifications you are more fulfilled and the territory is richer and more qualified’. 

In Vila Nova de Famalicão, the Qualifica Centre works in conjunction with around a hundred partners, schools, universities, companies and local entities, always with the aim of guaranteeing the adult population access to quality educational and training opportunities, enabling them to acquire new skills, update their knowledge and increase their qualifications.