Education in Brazil

The 1988 Brazilian Constitution said about education that it is, "a right for all, duty of the State and of the family, and is to be promoted with the collaboration of society, with the objective of fully developing the person, preparing the individual for the exercise of citizenship and qualifying him/her for work."

The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education and Sports, defines the guiding principals for the organization of educational programs, but does not establish such programs. Local governments are responsible for establishing local educational programs following the guidelines and using the funding supplied by the Federal Government.

The National Educational Bases and Guidelines Law enacted in 1961 says that, "national education, inspired in the principles of freedom and in the ideals of human solidarity, has the purpose of:

understanding individual rights and responsibilities, as well as those of citizens, the State and other community groups;
respecting man's dignity and fundamental freedoms;
strengthening national unity and international solidarity;
integral development of the human personality and his/her participation in the work towards common welfare;
preparing individuals and society to master scientific and technological resources which will allow the use existing possibilities to common welfare;
protecting, disseminating and expanding cultural heritage;
condemning any unequal treatment resulting from philosophical, political or religious belief, as well as any social classes or racial prejudices.

Organization and structure

Education is divided into three levels, with several grades in each division. Fundamental education (the first educational level) is free for everyone (including adults), and mandatory for children between the ages of 7-14. Intermediate education is also free, but it is not mandatory. Higher education (including graduate degrees) is free at public universities.

Pre-school

Pre-school is entierly optional, and exists to aid in the development of children under 7. It aims to assist in all areas of child development, including motor skills, cognative skills, and social skills while providing fertile ground for the later acquisition of knowledge and learning. There are day nurseries for children under 2, kindergartens for 2-3 year olds, and preschools for children 4 and up.

Fundamental Education

Fundamental Education is mandatory for children ages 7-14. There are 8 grades. Generally speaking, the only prerequisite for enrolling in first grade is that a child should be 7 years of age, but some educational systems allow children younger than 7 to enroll in first grade. Older students who, for whatever reason have not completed their fundamental education are allowed to attend, though those over 18 are separated from the younger children.

The Federal Council of Education sets a core curriculum consisting of Portuguese, Social Studies (including History and Geography) Physics, Biological Science, and Mathematics. Each educational system supplements this core curriculum with a diversified curriculum defined by the needs of the region and the abilities of individual students.

The length of the school year is set at 200 days by the National Education Bases and Guidelines Law. Fundamental schools must provide students with 800 hours of activities per year. The actual school calendar is set by individual schools which, in rural areas, often organize their calendar by sowing and harvesting seasons.

Intermediate Education

Intermediate education can take anywhere from 3-5 years. The minimum is 2,200 hours of coursework over 3 years. Students must have finished their Fundamental education before they are allowed to enroll in Intermediate school. Professional training is often included in Intermediate Education, and when it is, the education takes longer.

Higher Education

Intermediate education is mandatory for those wishing to pursue higher education. In addition, students must pass an entrance examination for their specific course of study.

Higher education in Brazil, as in many nations, can be divided into both undergraduate and graduate work. In addition to providing education, Universities promote research, and provide stand-alone classes to the community.

Teacher training and qualification

Teacher training is available at both Intermediate schools and Universities, depending on what grades one desires to teach. A 3-year course in Intermediate school will qualify prospective teachers to teach the first 4 grades of Fundamental school. A 3-4 year Intermediate school course plus an additional year qualifies one to teach grades 5 and 6. Intermediate school training takes place at the University level. There are frequent programs for teachers to update their skills.

References

A document about education in Brazil, located on the website of the Permanent Missions To The United Nations