Government creates new secretariats

Education and Culture, the new departments of the Ministry of Social Affairs

In a historic move for public administration in Marienbourg, the Minister of Social Affairs, The Most Worthy Mr. Gabriel Calixto, announced on 26 May 2025 the creation of the Secretariat of Education and the Secretariat of Culture, both under his ministry. The measure was authorized by the Minister-President, The Most Worthy Mr. Gabriel Torres, and approved by a large majority in the Ducal Diet, which also approved new funding for the two offices.

According to Calixto, the creation of these departments aims to decentralize responsibilities and ensure more specialized efforts in areas that are essential to Marienbourg’s development. “Education and culture are the pillars of our identity and our future. It is essential that these areas have dedicated structures with technical teams focused entirely on their challenges and potential,” said the minister in an official statement.

The newly established Secretariat of Education will oversee two important institutions of the duchy: the Duke’s College of Agronomy, focused on technical and scientific training in the agricultural field, and the Marienbourgish Historical and Geographical Institute, a center of excellence dedicated to research and preservation of local history. Educator Cynthia Almeida was appointed as the first Secretary of Education, selected for her experience in community education and school management.

The Secretariat of Culture, in turn, will be responsible for promoting, preserving, and celebrating Marienbourg’s rich cultural heritage, which is deeply rooted in the traditions of Portuguese-descended caipiras from the Minas region. Its mission will be to strengthen local cultural expressions, from traditional music and dance to the preservation of Mirandese as a heritage language. With this new structure, the Ministry of Social Affairs significantly expands its scope, marking a new chapter in building a more educated, cultured, and identity-conscious Marienbourg.