Lula announces ITA unit in Ceará – 09/01/2023 – Education

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) announced this Friday (1st) in Fortaleza that Ceará should host the first branch of ITA (Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica), a higher education institution of the FAB (Brazilian Air Force) based in São Paulo. José dos Campos, in the interior of São Paulo, a reference in undergraduate and graduate courses in the areas of engineering, with emphasis on the aerospace sector.

The confirmation took place during an event at Banco do Nordeste with the presence of the Minister of Defense and Air Force Commander, José Mucio Monteiro, and the Air Force Commander, Air Force Lieutenant Marcelo Kanitz Damasceno.

According to the MEC, the choice of Ceará is due to the large percentage of approvals, in the ITA, of students from schools in Ceará —about 40%, on average.

“Most of the students approved at ITA are from Ceará, which demonstrates the potential and dedication of young people in the region. The new unit promises to be a milestone in local education, offering unique opportunities and training highly qualified professionals”, said the Minister of Education and former governor of Ceará, Camilo Santana.

Lula was with the military at the Fortaleza air base, a place under study to receive the military institution. For the Minister of Defense, the space chosen is excellent. Now, the final budget negotiations for accommodations are missing.

“Not much is missing. I am very excited to materialize this dream. We will have the first ITA Norte Nordeste. A gift for the Brazilian Northeast, mainly for scientists from the Northeast and scientists from Ceará”, said José Mucio Monteiro.

The Ministries of Defense and Education signed, in early August, a technical cooperation agreement to, within 60 days, evaluate the creation of the unit in Ceará.

At this Friday’s event, Lula called on Minister Camilo Santana to take what he called “good public education in Ceará” to the rest of the country.

“Haddad, until today, was my best minister of education. Camilo has the chance of, in the coming years, leading this ranking”, said Lula. “Ceará makes us proud with the quality of public education and full-time schools. The state deserves to receive the first ITA outside of São Paulo”.