Ricardo Vélez Rodríguez

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Vélez and the second or maternal family name is Rodríguez.

Ricardo Vélez Rodríguez
Minister of Education
In office 1 January 2019 – 8 April 2019
President	Jair Bolsonaro
Preceded by	Rossieli Soares
Succeeded by	Abraham Weintraub
Personal details
Born	(1943-11-15) 15 November 1943 (age 81) Bogotá, Colombia
Alma mater	Pontifical Xavierian University Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro Gama Filho University

Ricardo Vélez Rodríguez (born 15 November 1943) is a Colombian-Brazilian philosopher[1] and former Minister of Education of Brazil.

Biography

Rodríguez was born in 1943 in Bogotá, Colombia. He received a degree in Philosophy from the Pontifical Xavierian University in 1963, and in 1967 received a degree in Theology from the Bogotá Seminar. In 1974 he received a master's degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro and in 1982 received a doctorate in philosophy from Universidade Gama Filho.[2][1]

He is a professor of religion at the Federal University of Juiz de Fora.[3] Rodríguez is a fierce critic of the Workers' Party, the Brazilian National High School Exam, and is a proponent of the "Escola sem Partido" ("Nonpartisan School") project.[4] His political views have been described as far-right.[5] He had been recommended by the philosopher Olavo de Carvalho.[6]

On 22 November 2018, Brazilian President-elect Jair Bolsonaro announced that Rodríguez would serve as Brazil's Minister of Education in the coming administration.[7] He took office on 1 January 2019.

References

1. "Ricardo Vélez Rodríguez". Ensayistas.org. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
2. "Ricardo Vélez Rodríguez". Escavador.com. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
3. "Ricardo Vélez Rodríguez". Videeditorial.com.br. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
4. "Após bancada evangélica vetar educador, Bolsonaro anuncia colombiano para Educação - Política". Politica.estadao.com.br. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
5. Venturini, Lilian (23 November 2018). "Este é o futuro ministro da Educação. E estas são suas ideias" [This is the future Minister of Education. And these are his ideas.]. Nexo Jornal (in Portuguese). Retrieved 23 January 2019.
6. "'Sou irresistível', diz Olavo de Carvalho sobre ter emplacado dois novos ministros". Oglobo.globo.com. 23 November 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2019.
7. "Ricardo Vélez Rodríguez será o novo ministro da Educação". Exame.abril.com.br. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2019.

Political offices
Preceded by Rossieli Soares	Minister of Education 2019	Succeeded by Abraham Weintraub