Homeschool MP should be published by February 15

The provisional measure (MP) that will regulate homeschooling in the country should be published by the 15th February, according to the press office of the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights.

At the end of last month, the federal government had already announced the completion of a first version of the text. On the occasion, the Minister of Human Rights, Damares Alves, stated that she understands that, although homeschooling belonging to the field of education, "is a family demand", and should therefore be a proposal presented by the ministry that commands.

As it has the force of law, the provisional measure has its effects valid from the moment it is edited, initially for 60 days. This deadline is automatically extended for an equal period when the vote in both Houses of Congress National - Chamber of Deputies and Federal Senate -, where it is definitively converted into ordinary law, is not completed.

Priorities

The regulation of homeschooling, as education provided at home is also called, is part of the 35 priority goals of the first 100 days of the Jair Bolsonaro government and has divided opinions. Last year, for example, the Federal Supreme Court (STF) decided not to recognize this type of teaching. For the Court, the Constitution only provides for the public or private education model, whose enrollment is mandatory, and there is no law authorizing the measure.

During the discussion at the STF, the Advocacia-Geral da União (AGU) and the Attorney General's Office, is arguing that the modality "does not find its own foundation in the Constitution Federal".

Last week, the executive secretary of the Ministry of Education (MEC), Luiz Antônio Tozi, defended that homeschooling should complement formal education and school enrollment remains mandatory.

“Homeschooling does not replace school, it complements school. It is in the law that [children and young people from 4 to 17 years old] have to come to school. It complements the educational process, bringing closer to his house, to where he lives, the issue of education, which is something that has to be valued by society. Parents have to be aware of this and must be participating in their children's education,” said Tozi.

The demand for regulation of home schooling was taken to the government by the National Association of Home Education (Aned). The association's latest survey, from 2018, shows that 7,500 families educate their children at home.

This number represents more than double the 3,200 families identified in 2016. It is estimated that 15,000 children receive home schooling. The government estimate is that 31,000 families are fans of the modality. The information is from Agência Brasil.