New Brazilian secondary education

New Brazilian secondary education
President Michel Temer sanctions the reform of secondary education during a ceremony at the Planalto Palace
Chamber of Deputies
Long title Federal Law No. 13,415 of 2017
Citation	[1]
Territorial extent	Whole of Brazil
Enacted by	Chamber of Deputies
Enacted	December 13, 2016
Enacted by	Federal Senate
Enacted	February 8th, 2017
Signed by	President Michel Temer
Signed	February 16, 2017
Effective	February 17, 2017
Legislative history
First chamber: Chamber of Deputies
Bill title	Provisional Measure No. 746 of 2016
Bill citation	[2]
Introduced by	President Michel Temer
Second chamber: Federal Senate
Passed	February 8th, 2017
Voting summary	43 voted for 13 voted against
Status: In force

The new Brazilian secondary education is a government educational policy instituted by Federal Law No. 13,415 of 2017, based on Provisional Measure No. 746 of 2016, which caused the secondary school reform.[Note 1] It aims to provide flexibility in the subjects taught to secondary school students in Brazil, establishing compulsory and optional disciplines. It also includes an increase in the workload over the years. Mendonça Filho, then Minister of Education, believed that the reform would help combat school dropouts and encourage the expansion of full-time education. Critics claim that it will weaken basic education in Brazil.[1][2][3]

On February 8, 2017, the Provisional Measure was approved in the Senate by 43 votes to 13; on February 16, it was sanctioned by President Michel Temer. The text divides the content of secondary education into 60% compulsory subjects, which will be defined by the Common National Curriculum Base (BNCC), and 40% optional subjects. Students must choose an area of interest among languages, mathematics, humanities, natural sciences and vocational education.[1][4][5][6]

Schools will have a deadline to increase their workload from 800 hours a year to 1,000 hours (or from four hours a day to five hours a day), in order to gradually implement full-time teaching. The annual workload must reach 1,400 hours, but there is no deadline for this.[4][7]

Background

In 2013, a secondary school reform proposal by Reginaldo Lopes, a federal deputy from Minas Gerais affiliated to the Workers' Party (PT), was being discussed in the Chamber of Deputies under Bill No. 6.840. At the time, he claimed that the secondary school curriculum was outdated, had too many compulsory subjects and didn't recognize the individual differences of the students.[2][8][9][10]

Definitions and objectives

The secondary school curriculum was defined by the Common National Curriculum Base (BNCC). The document is composed of 4 areas of knowledge plus 1 area of technical and vocational training. One of the aims of the project is to promote an increase in the workload in order to meet target 6 of the National Education Plan (PNE), which stipulates that 50% of schools and 25% of enrolments in basic education should be in full-time education by 2024.[2][11][12][13]

Reception and repercussions

Main article: 2016 student protests in Brazil

High school students occupy school against reform in Brasilia.

The reform is considered controversial and has divided the opinions of educators. Students held large mobilizations across Brazil, especially in the states of Minas Gerais and Paraná, against the amendment. Deputy Thiago Peixoto (PSD-GO) stated that the protests were partly due to misinformation about the content of the provisional measure. One of the main points of praise for the proposal is that it makes subjects more flexible.[14][15][16][17]

Daniel Cara, general coordinator of the National Campaign for the Right to Education, is one of the main critics of the reform.[18] A citizen from Rio Grande do Sul sent a bill to the Federal Senate via the e-Citizenship Portal suggesting that philosophy and sociology become compulsory subjects in high school. The suggestion was included by the Human Rights Commission in Bill No. 2579 of 2019.[19]

Protests against the new secondary education

Protests to repeal the new secondary school system took place on March 15, 2023, in 56 cities across Brazil. The new format, which became compulsory in 2022, has been the target of much criticism, especially regarding the reduction in the workload of traditional subjects. The demonstrators, mostly secondary school students, called on the Lula government to repeal the current model, while the Minister of Education, Camilo Santana, admitted that it was necessary to make "adjustments".[16][20]

Application schedule

In June 2021, the Ministry of Education announced the timetable for implementing the secondary school reform, which began in 2022 and ended in 2024, when the ENEM became aligned with the new format. After protests and criticism from students and civil organizations, the reform schedule was suspended for 90 days.[21][22][23][24]

See also

• Presidency of Michel Temer
• Brazil labor reform
• 2016 student protests in Brazil

Notes

1. Amends the National Education Guidelines and Bases Law of December 20, 1996, which establishes the guidelines and bases of national education, and Law No. 11494, of June 20, 2007, which regulates the Fund for the Maintenance and Development of Basic Education and the Valorization of Education Professionals, the Consolidation of Labor Laws (CLT) and Decree No. 236, of February 1, 1967. Repeals Law No. 1161, of August 5, 2005, and establishes the Policy for Promoting the Implementation of Full-Time High Schools.

References

1. "Senado aprova MP que reforma o ensino médio". Estadão. 2017-02-08. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
2. Fajardo, Vanessa (2017-02-08). "Entenda a reforma do ensino médio". G1. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
3. Oliveira, Junia (2021-07-07). "O aluno decide como estudar? Entenda a ideia do novo ensino médio em Minas". Estado de Minas. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
4. "Sancionada Lei da Reforma no Ensino Médio". Agência Senado. 2017-02-16. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
5. Calgaro, Fernanda (2017-02-08). "Senado aprova MP que reforma o ensino médio; texto vai à sanção presidencial". G1. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
6. Rossi, Marina (2017-02-09). "Reforma do Ensino Médio é aprovada no Senado". El País. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
7. Torkarnia, Mariana (2022-02-01). "Novo ensino médio começa a ser implementado este ano". Agência Brasil. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
8. Silva, Monica (2015-07-29). "Pesquisadoras "conversam" com PL 6.840 de reforma do Ensino Médio". Observatório do Ensino Médio. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
9. "PL 6840/2013". Federal Government of Brazil. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
10. Antunes, André (2014-02-21). "Projeto de lei que altera o ensino médio é alvo de críticas de educadores". EPSJV. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
11. "Inglês no Novo Ensino Médio: as principais dúvidas sobre essa disciplina obrigatória". ClipEscola. 2021-12-06. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
12. "A Língua Inglesa na Base Nacional Comum Curricular (BNCC)". British Council. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
13. "Base Nacional Comum Curricular" (PDF). BNCC. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
14. Galvão, William (2016-09-30). "A controversa reforma do ensino médio". Visão Oeste. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
15. Abdalla, Sharon; Dreschsel, Denise (2016-09-22). "Proposta de reforma do ensino médio divide especialistas; saiba o que muda". Gazeta do Povo. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
16. "Estudantes se reúnem para protestar contra reforma do ensino médio". G1. 2016-10-09. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
17. Montesanti, Beatriz (2016-09-24). "Como é a reforma do ensino médio e quais são as críticas a ela". Nexo. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
18. "Reforma do Ensino Médio é um retorno piorado à década de 90". Unisinos. 2017-02-10. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
19. "Projeto de Lei n° 2579, de 2019". Federal Senate. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
20. "Estudantes protestam contra Novo Ensino Médio pelo país". Poder360. 2023-03-15. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
21. Avancini, Marta (2023-04-05). "NOVO ENSINO MÉDIO É EQUAÇÃO DE MUITAS VARIÁVEIS E AINDA SEM SOLUÇÃO". UOL. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
22. "Ministério da Educação anuncia cronograma de implementação do Novo Ensino Médio". G1. 2021-07-14. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
23. "Enem: MEC anuncia novo modelo e exame será totalmente alinhado com novo ensino médio a partir de 2024". Extra. 2021-07-14. Retrieved 2024-05-01.
24. "Reforma do ensino médio e Enem: O que muda a partir de agora?". Terra. 2023-04-03. Retrieved 2024-05-01.