O Education Minister, Abraham Weintraub, went to the Senate to explain controversial measures and statements. In a meeting with the Commission for Education, Culture and Sport (EC), he spoke of the cuts in the federal ones.
Weintraub caused controversy when he announced the contingency of 30% of the resources of several federal educational institutions. He even went so far as to say that these educational establishments were making “shambles” instead of improving their performance.
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Questioned on this subject by Senator Randolfe Rodrigues (Rede-AP), Weintraub tried to appease the situation. The minister denied the cuts and said that there was only “a contingency of these resources”. He pondered that the situation should normalize with the approval of the Social Security reform.
In his presentation, which lasted one hour, Abraham Weintraub made an analysis of preschool in Brazil. He said that 10% of children are still unassisted with regard to vacancies in daycare centers. He also stressed the importance of contact with recreational activities.
Weintraub highlighted the need for parents to participate in the educational process. He also said that learning started early has more chances of success.
“I am not talking about educating in the strict sense of learning to read and write, but about the entire liturgy of the school. At home, the child has a behavior, while the school is another world, another reality.”
One of the MEC's priorities, according to Weintraub, is to improve investments in early childhood education. One goal would be to open new openings in day care centers. Another proposal is to change the current picture of more than 50% of students in the 3rd year of elementary school with insufficient knowledge in reading.
The minister explained that this monitoring takes place through the results of the National Literacy Assessment (ANA). He also highlighted some measures coordinated by MEC with states and municipalities based on the National Literacy Policy.
There was also a defense of the improvement of professional education in Brazil. The minister pointed out that 48% of high school graduates in the European Union complete this type of education.
“People want to learn a trade because, if you have a trade, you don't need it. It is important to highlight the importance of technical education, because there the person learns the basics of high school and still leaves with a job to help his family.”
The minister criticized Fies, considering the program an “unbalanced policy”. He showed concern about the approximately 500,000 young people indebted for student loans. He pointed out that the default rate represents 17.2% of total private enrollments.
Data for 2019 point to 1,096,328 contracts being amortized and 522,414 (47.7%) in default for more than 90 days. Weintraub argued that education in Brazil still lacks partnerships between states and municipalities. He considered the participation of the private sector essential for the country to reach the level of schooling of the other OECD members.
Abraam Weintraub said that basic education teachers need to be as valued as those in higher education. He suggested improving the income of these professionals with measures such as salary increases and bonuses for performance and results, for example. He also said that society, represented by the National Congress, should help discuss priorities in the allocation of public resources for education.
“I don't want to propose changing everything, but I'm open to dialogue. I would like an open, frank debate, breaking prejudices. We cannot build a new building without completing others that are still under construction.”
During the public hearing, Senator Jean Paul Prates (PT-RN) criticized Weintraub. He highlighted the polemical statement by the minister that Brazilian universities were causing “disruption” and that there would be punishment as a result. The parliamentarian considered that the government promotes a "knock and blow" by denying budget cuts.
Senator Confúcio Moura (MDB-RO) assessed that Abraham Weintraub was appointed suddenly. He questioned the minister if he feels prepared to lead the movement for improving the quality of Brazilian education. The parliamentarian also wanted to know what strategies the minister will use to prepare teachers.
The minister replied that he was chosen for the portfolio because of his experience. According to him, there are more than 20 years of management under his belt. He highlighted his ability to make changes and said that it takes courage to be in the role he occupies.
“My academic background is robust. I am well above the average of the last 15 ministers who passed through there, in terms of qualifications and in terms of the names of the universities I came from.”
Randolfe Rodrigues considered that Abraham Weintraub did not clearly answer the senators' questions. He declared that the minister says he wants dialogue, "but attacks his critics". The parliamentarian stressed that cut and contingency are synonymous. He also considered that using word games to deny the cut of funds in universities “is frivolous”.
