Education In Brazil

In Brazil, “Educação Básica” (Basic Education) includes “Educação infantil” (), “Ensino Fundamental” (/Middle School) and “Ensino Médio” (). The goal of basic education is to guarantee to all Brazilians the core regular education that is essential for them to exercise their citizenship rights and responsibilities and provide them with the means to advance in the job market or pursue higher education. The two main guidelines for Brazilian basic education are the Law of Basic Tenets and Guidelines of National Education (“Lei de Diretrizes e Bases da Educação Nacional” – LDB), i.e. Law no 9,394, of December 20, 1996 and the National Education Plan (PNE) (Law no. 10,172 of 2001), both of which are governed by the Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

The first stage of “Basic Education” is “Educação infantil” (“Preschool”), until the child turns six (6) years old, the purpose of which is the child’s full development, in all of its aspects, i.e. physically, psychologically, intellectually and socially, by complementing the actions of the family and the community. Preschool education is offered at daycare centers or similar settings for children up to three years of age; and preschools, for children 4-6 years old.

“Ensino Fundamental” (“Elementary School and Middle School”) are mandatory for children six and older. They last for nine years,are free of charge at public schools, and has the goal of providing fundamental education of the citizen. Access to “Ensino Fundamental” is an individual right that must be ensured, and any citizen, group of citizens, community association, union, trade organization, or any other legally established entity—even the Public Attorney’s Office—may file a lawsuit against the government to ensure compliance.

“Ensino Médio” (“High School”), which was previously known as Secondary Education, lasts for three years. The Law of Basic Tenets and Guidelines of National Education (LDB) established that it is a duty of the State to gradually increase the number of years for which it is mandatory. Also, there are .

“Ensino Superior” (“Higher Education”) is composed of “Graduação”. (“Undergraduate”) degree programs, which usually last for five years, and Graduate “Pós-Graduação” (“Graduate”) programs, with an average duration of two and a half years for a Masters degree and four years for a Doctorate, offered both by federal and state academic institutions, public and private.

An important feature of the Brazilian educational system is the decentralization of the powers to administer and organize it. The responsibility for making education available and administering each of its levels is shared by the Federal, State and Local governments, including the Federal District of Brasília, which work in cooperation with each other. The way in which they organize themselves to provide education is based on federal legislation that establishes a common national educational basis, including minimum hours and core curricula, the required number of school days, and final tests that are to be administered, while, at the same time, making sure that regional differences and local cultural aspects are respected.