Podcast: the end of civic-military schools – Folha – 07/13/2023 – Podcasts

The Lula government (PT) began the process of ending the federal program that encourages civic-military schools. The initiative was a flag of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and received criticism for prioritizing a small number of units. The Ministry of Education sent a letter to state departments to initiate a transition that removes military personnel from schools.

The decision was taken in conjunction with the Defense portfolio. In a note, the MEC pointed out disproportionate investments, lack of support in the sector’s legislation and a deviation from purpose as reasons for discontinuing the model — both in the functions of the Armed Forces and in the transfer of money from Education to Defense.

The civic-military model, through which reserve soldiers, police and firefighters act in school administration, gained evidence due to positive educational indicators and for allegedly tackling the problem of indiscipline. In 2018, the country had 120 such units; today, MEC registers 202, which serve around 120,000 students.

Analysts, however, see risks in the militarization of education and point to data that indicate that the model is not a panacea for student performance. The announcement of the end of the program generated criticism from figures such as former vice president and current senator Hamilton Mourão (Republicanos-RS). Governors identified with Bolsonarism said they should maintain state programs to encourage the model.

This Thursday’s Café da Manhã (13) explains what civic-military schools are, discusses criticism of these institutions and analyzes the government’s reasons for ending the incentive program. The podcast interviews the reporter of Sheet Paulo Saldana.

The audio program is published on Spotify, streaming service partner of Sheet in the initiative and which specializes in music, podcast and video. You can listen to the episode by clicking above. To access the application, just register for free.

Breakfast is published from Monday to Friday, always at the beginning of the day. The episode is presented by journalists Magê Flores and Gustavo Simon, with production by Carolina Moraes, Laila Mouallem and Victor Lacombe. Sound editing is by Raphael Concli.