São Paulo works to expand civic-military education from 2024

The state of São Paulo intends to present the structuring of the state model of the civic-military school program at the beginning of October. The intention is to put the initiative into practice for the 2024 school year and gain momentum with each new year of the mandate, according to the investigation of the People’s Gazette.

The definitions took place after President Lula (PT) announced the end of the federal program for civic-military schools, last week. In response, the governor of São Paulo, Tarcisio de Freitas (Republicans), confirmed that the program will be expanded in the state.

“I was a student at Colégio Militar and I know the importance of quality education and how the school needs to convey correct values ​​to our young people. The government of SP is going to issue a decree to regulate its own program of civic-military schools and expand teaching units with this format across the state”.

Tarcísio de Freitas (Republicans), governor of São Paulo

Questioned by the report, the Secretary of Education of the State of São Paulo has not yet projected a forecast for signing the decree mentioned by the governor. “The legal and operational measures of the project are being developed by the respective technical areas of the government”, informed the folder.

Currently, São Paulo has eight schools operating in the civic-military education model, one state and seven municipal. This represents less than 1% of more than 5,000 educational institutions throughout the state. Are they:

• Marechal do Ar Eduardo Gomes State School, in Guarujá
• CAIC Municipal School, in Lorena
• Ricardo Izar Municipal School, in Taquaritinga
• Municipal School Prof. Darvy Mascaro, in Barrinha
• Municipal School Prof. Lafayette Rodrigues Pereira, in Taubate
• Jorge Bierrenbach Senra Municipal School, in São Vicente
• Municipal School Teacher Maria Julia Antunes do Amaral Moreira, in Guaratinguetá
• José Pereira Soares Municipal School, in Pedro de Toledo

Defender of the civic-military school, state deputy Lieutenant Coimbra (PL-SP) will help the team of the state secretary of Education, Renato Feder, to assemble the model for the new institutions. The parliamentarian spoke exclusively with the People’s Gazette.

“It is a free model that brings results to students. Just watch the television programs (with student participation): the students of these schools are always the best placed. The program has been around for 20 years and has several models. Parents want to place their children in these schools, everyone wants the best for their child. Mothers get up early in the queue when there is a vacancy”.

State Deputy Lieutenant Coimbra (PL-SP)

Coimbra explained why, in the government Jair Bolsonaro (PL), the program was little disseminated in the national territory. “In 2019 it was a pilot project – to have two per state. In 2020 and 2021 everything was closed due to the pandemic and, in 2022, semi-closed. Before we implement others, we need to consolidate those that already exist”.

Adaptations to the proposal are also on the agenda, recognizes the parliamentarian. “For example, in São Paulo, it was difficult to find retired military personnel. Some cities did not have the program for this reason. São José do Rio Preto had 80% approval from parents and students, but the closest battalion to the municipality is in the city of Lins (120 kilometers away). There are no reserve soldiers in that region”, explains the congressman.

How the model of the civic-military school of the Ministry of Education works:

• They are reserve soldiers of the Armed Forces
• One soldier for every three classes. And two responsible officials who dialogue with the school management.
• The military does not stay inside the classrooms.
• The military supervises the corridors and welcomes the students.
• The military does not carry a weapon.
• When there is room in the curriculum, the military teaches civics, citizenship and national values.
• The national anthem, marching and standing to attention are also taught.
• The academic content of the classroom is the same as in a regular school.

For Coimbra, the Federal government is ending the program for political reasons. “The civic-military schools began during the Lula government. When we started promoting the idea (for expansion), in 2019, there were already more than 200 for Brazil. It wasn’t a problem and now it’s become a problem, just because it became a brand of the previous government. We just want to give parents the option of choosing. The civic-military school increases the Enem score by 20% and it reduces school dropout by 50%, due to the feeling of belonging”, he pointed out.