Seduc and French Guiana establish cooperation to strengthen education and innovation in Pará
International partnership foresees joint projects in technology, teacher training, and renewable energy with support from European funds
The Government of Pará, through the State Department of Education (Seduc), has advanced in building an international cooperation agenda with the Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana (CTG), aimed at strengthening education, innovation, and territorial development. The strategic meeting took place this Tuesday (12) in Belém and marks another stage of the dialogue initiated in May between the institutions.
During the meeting, the main steps for formalizing the cooperation were defined, including the signing of a letter of intent, the preparation of a technical term, the holding of a project workshop in October, and the submission of joint proposals to the international Interreg Amazon Cooperation Program (PCIA) and FEDER-CTE programs.
With European funding of up to 85% of eligible public expenses, the programs can allocate up to 18.9 million euros for initiatives in the areas of education, technology, renewable energy, social inclusion, and environmental preservation.
Education and technology with a cross-border focus
According to Diego Maia, deputy secretary of Seduc, the cooperation opens new fronts for exchange and innovation. “We are building an exchange that goes far beyond the basic curriculum, also encompassing technology. French Guiana is responsible for launching rockets from Europe, and Pará has Ciseb. This exchange of experiences can bring benefits to both our students and the Guianese. Today, we began the technical construction phase of the projects, which will be presented in a workshop in October,” he emphasized.
Among the prioritized themes in the partnership are the exchange of students and teachers, the creation of a cross-border language school, clean energy projects for schools of CEMEP (Center for Mediation Education and Educational Practices), and teacher training in partnership with universities in French Guiana.
International cooperation for sustainable development
Rafael Herdy, coordinator of the Center for Innovation and Sustainability in Basic Education (Ciseb), also highlighted the potential of the initiative. “We sealed a technical cooperation pact that benefits both sides. In French Guiana, there is a rocket launch center, and here we have a technology and sustainability center to train teachers and students. It is an opportunity for mutual learning and development,” he assessed.
The meeting was part of the CTG Cooperation Mission in Belém and was attended by the vice-president of the Territorial Collectivity of French Guiana, Jean-Paul Ferreira, as well as state authorities. The action reinforces the commitment of the Government of Pará to strategic partnerships that promote public education and sustainable development throughout the region.
