More Brazilian Indians Looking for Basic Schooling

Registration of indigenous students for elementary school has increased in the last three years, according to the 2005 School Census.

This week, the Ministry of Education (MEC) released an evaluation that indicates a 40% growth in relation to 2002 and 2003 data. The expansion of the school system had a 35% increase.

The Coordinator of MEC’s Indigenous School Education, Kleber Gesteira, said that this increase was due to the investments made by the government in the construction of new schools and in teachers training programs.

He added that one other reason is that indigenous population growth rate is high, which increases the need for schools.

"Indigenous communities consider the school a strategic tool for their development and for the improvement of life quality. This makes them fight for quality public education."

The 2005 School Census also indicates progress in the middle school system at indigenous lands. The number of schools jumped from 18, in 2002, to 72, this year, a 300% increase.

Only 1% of all the schools in the country are specific for the indigenous population, that is, 2,324 units, located in 24 states.

Next year, the government will invest US$ 4.99 million (11 million reais) to train teachers and technicians of the school system, as well as to build new schools.

Tags:

You May Also Like

Brazil Shuns Iberoamerican Summit, Which Deals with 25 Million Migrants

The plight of millions of Latinamerican migrants looking for better living conditions in the ...

Brazil, a World Leader in Transplant

Brazil has the world’s largest public system of organ transplants. By the end of ...

LETTERS

Yes, there are prosperous and even rich Brazilian blacks. And they are not just ...

In 15 Days, Brazil Exports US$ 4.4 Bi With 1.7 Bi Surplus

Brazil exported the equivalent to US$ 1.943 billion on the third week of January ...

Lawsuits Won’t Stop Brazil from Building World’s Third Largest Hydroelectric Plant

Despite nasty court battles started by Indians, environmental activists and some of its own ...

Brazil to Invest US$ 8.5 Billion in Petrochemicals for Plastic

Brazilian investments in the project of the Rio de Janeiro Petrochemical Complex (Comperj), in southeastern ...

Suspect Killers of Landless Are Put in Jail

Brazil’s Special Secretary of Human Rights, Minister Nilmário Miranda, informed that three of the ...

Bare Flesh Protest

To call attention to their gripe, everything is game for the students: to carry ...

Brazil Radio Station Set on Fire for 3rd Time. Mayor Main Suspect

Brazilian Nova Coari radio, in Amazonas state, in northern Brazil, was set on fire ...

Brazil’s Maraú: Get a Taste of Paradise Before Civilization Discovers It

Did you know that Polynesia is not only in Oceania but also in Brazil? ...