Against the cuts of Bolsonaro in education | Is …

After announcing cuts in federal schools and universities, Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro, has championed education as a way to improve the lives of the people, at the same time. era that reiterated its support for military schools. In addition, the president said that the current government's goal is to set up one of these institutions in every capital of the country. Due to cuts in education, students and teachers from schools and universities demonstrated yesterday in Rio de Janeiro and called for a general strike on May 15.

"We want more children and young people who study in the banks of these (military) schools: the respect, discipline and love of the country are the foundations of these schools," said the president of right in a speech made on the occasion of the 130th anniversary of the Rio Military College. de Janeiro, whose vice-president, General Hamilton Mourao, is a graduate. "Military schools are an example of excellence for Brazilian education," he added.

The former army captain also said that he was working with his ministers of defense and education to develop military education. The goal, he said, is "to change the destiny of Brazil". Therefore, he insisted on his intention to build a military college in every state capital where there is not yet one. The construction of such an establishment in Campo de Marte – in the northern area of ​​San Pablo – will be the first step, as promised.

During the event, Bolsonaro championed education to improve people 's lives. "What allows a man or a woman to get out of a difficult situation in which they find themselves, is knowledge," he said, despite the scenario of reducing the budget of education in federal schools and universities.

Education is the sector most affected by the adjustment plan. Last week, the Ministry of Education announced the reduction of funds from 30% of universities and federal institutes, as part of the series of tax restraint measures announced en mbade since the end of April.

First, Education Minister Abraham Weintraub proposed cutting back on investment in the faculties of philosophy and sociology, a move that Bolsonaro supported by saying that the goal was "to focus on the areas that generate immediate returns to the taxpayer, such as: veterinarian, engineering and medicine ".

Next comes the announcement of the blockade of resources for federal universities with the argument that the measure will give priority to basic education. And finally, it was announced the freezing of the budget of schools and federal institutions. The Brazilian government Folha de Sao Paulo believes, however, that the government can lift the budget blockade during the year. The executive argues that if pension reform is approved, the economy can improve and, with it, the collection, which would return to the payments provided in the budget.

On the sidelines of the military demonstration, hundreds of students from federal schools and universities in Rio protested against the cuts. Accompanied by parents and teachers, the students protested peacefully against the budget blockade and asked the Brazilian president to reverse the measure. Universities are concerned that if this does not happen, they can not guarantee minimum functioning if they reach the point of not being able to pay the water and energy bills.

The majority of students are manifested by messages containing phrases such as "Education is not about spending, it's an investment" or "If we save so much in education, we'll stay rich." in ignorance ". Most of the students who participated in the protest study at the Pedro II Federal School, one of the most prestigious in the country and located in front of the military school that s & 39; is returned to Bolsonaro.

"We are here to say no to censorship, cuts or this authoritarian government," said Camila, a master's student in sociology at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. "We want to study, we have the right to study, our universities, our schools and institutes are the legacy of the Brazilian people and above all governments, we will fight to defend it," he added. .

The former Secretary of Education of the Ministry of Education, Cesar Callegari, said the cuts indicate the government's position on education. "This is consistent with the lack of projects in the field of education.The government gives evidence that a minister of education is enough to serve as a vector in an ideological war," said Callegari , quoted by Folha.

On May 15, a strike called by students and university professors will be organized to proselytize against adjustment in the field of education, but also in that of culture. In addition to blocking education budgets, the Bolsonaro government imposed major amendments to the law on cultural patronage at the end of April, allowing companies to make significant investments in artistic projects (shows, exhibitions, films) with deductions. a percentage of these funds from your income tax. The Minister of Citizenship, Osmar Terra, has reduced to one million the ceiling of 60 million reals of encouragement allocated for each project. The law, previously described by Bolsonaro, was "a shame" because, in his opinion, it is a way to "co-opt" the artists lined up to the left.