Transition PEC provides BRL 12 billion for education, says Alckmin

The vice-president-elect Geraldo Alckmin defended this Thursday (15th), in Brasilia, that the federal government act in a coordinated way with states and municipalities to increase investments and improve the quality of education in the country, especially Basic Education. The statement was given during a meeting of the Pact for Learning, an event organized by the non-governmental organization Todos pela Educação in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) at a hotel in the federal capital. The meeting was also attended by several state governors, including governors elected this year. “President Lula has said that the first meeting he intends to hold in January is with male and female governors”, recalled Alckmin, citing the importance of federative dialogue. The vice president-elect highlighted that the Constitutional Amendment Proposal (PEC) that authorizes public spending outside the budget cap rule, currently under discussion in the Chamber of Deputies, provides for at least R$ 12 billion for education. “I also want to say that in the PEC that is being discussed, there is R$ 12 billion to improve the education budget. And, for education connectivity, when 5G was implemented, R$ 3.1 billion was set aside just for connectivity in the area education”, he emphasized. In all, the PEC will allow the elected government to have fiscal space in the spending ceiling of around BRL 145 billion in the 2023 Budget and another BRL 23 billion in investments outside the ceiling. The largest amount is to ensure the maintenance of aid of R$ 600 to the most vulnerable families, with an extra R$ 150 per child up to 6 years of age for each beneficiary. Nursery In a speech to governors and civil society organizations, Alckmin spoke of the need to support municipalities in early childhood education, and mentioned the goal of reaching 50% coverage in the coming years. “The goal is to reach 50% for daycare centers. We have states that do not have 8% of vacancies in daycare centers,” he pointed out. “If we manage to expand the day care centers, help the municipalities and eliminate the lack of vacancies in the Emeis [Escolas Municipais de Educação Infantil], we are going to make a spectacular leap”, he predicted. The vice president also defended a readjustment in the current budget for school lunches, which is 36 cents per student. “There is a need to correct these values. Food is an absolute priority”, he highlighted. The proposal was included in the transition team’s report, and depends on new resources to be implemented.

Agência Brasil