‘Education, development and social inclusion’ was the theme of the 32nd Congress of the Confederação Nacional dos Trabalhadores em Educação (CNTE), EI’s affiliate in Brazil, held from 16-19 January in Brasilia.
During the event, some 2,500 teacher trade unionists from every Brazilian state discussed trends, progress and regression in education legislation. The Congress also elected the Confederation’s new leadership for 2014-2017.
Participants reviewed trade union and education policy in the current national and international environment, the CNTE statutes, its permanent policies and its current campaigns.
Mobilising for quality education Last year saw a major mobilisation of Brazilian educators in their battle for quality public education and improving the status of the teaching profession.
One of the actions involved camping out in front of the Senate in Brasilia for two months to call for the final approval of the National Education Plan (PNE), and the occupation of the chamber when the state governors proposed an adjustment of 8.32 per cent in the minimum wage (National Wage Floor) for teachers.
New agendaThis year’s Congress approved a busy calendar of demonstrations for the coming months, including a national education strike on 17, 18 and 19 March.
Participants also discussed challenges ahead.“We have a new agenda before us that goes beyond strictly educational issues,” said Juçara Dutra Vieira, EI vice-president for Latin America. “There is a growing need for us to discuss feminism, the environment and multiculturalism.”
More information on the Congress can be found on the CNTE website