This week, the city of São Paulo becomes the hub of the conversation on education. The Bett Brasil, Latin America's Largest Education and Technology Event, kicked off this Tuesday (the 9th) at the Transamerica Expo Center. With the theme “Education and Work for New Futures,” the event aims to bring together educators to discuss the potential and challenges of the national education system. 

The event’s opening ceremony highlighted the importance of integrating new technologies into schools and discussed strategies for reducing inequalities in access across the country. 

In attendance were Bett Brasil Director Claudia Valério, the São Paulo State Secretary of Education, Renato Feder; the presidents of the National Council of State Secretaries of Education (Consed), Vitor de Angelo; the presidents of the National Union of Municipal Education Directors (Undime Nacional and Undime São Paulo), Luiz Miguel Garcia; and the vice president of the National Association of Catholic Education (ANEC),Sister Adair Aparecida Sberga. 

Claudia Valério, director of Bett Brasil, highlighted the event’s growth—which this year features 290 exhibiting brands and more than 320 speakers—as well as its role as a forum for dialogue that anticipates and discusses trends in education. “Bett always makes room for the new; we’re always one step ahead, trying to anticipate and predict trends for the sector. “We want to accelerate innovation and connect educators to foster the best possible development for Brazilian education,” she noted. The director also highlighted the topics that are expected to take center stage at this year’s event, such as ChatGPT, inclusion, diversity, mental health, the new high school curriculum, and continuing education for teachers.

Renato Feder, the São Paulo State Secretary of Education, spoke at the opening ceremony about the potential of the nation’s education system. “We don’t see the good news coming out of the country. I routinely visit schools throughout the state, and I can say that we are experiencing an educational revolution, especially in public schools.” 

The increased participation of the public school system in Bett Brasil 2023 was also a prominent topic among the guests. Luiz Miguel Garcia, president of Undime, noted that in its early years, the event was geared exclusively toward private schools—a reality that has changed completely over the course of the event’s 28-year history. “What was once a gathering restricted solely to the private education sector is now a forum for debates and solutions for education as a whole. This year’s theme, in fact, presents us with the challenge of addressing the inequalities that still exist regarding access to technology in schools across the country.” 

Vitor de Angelo, president of Consed, emphasized in his speech the importance of raising awareness among administrators about the educational use of technological tools. “Technology should bring people together, not drive them apart. It’s nonsense to think that innovations like ChatGPT spell the end of education. The question we should ask ourselves is: What skills do I need to operate this technology and use it to my advantage? Now more than ever, we need to learn how to ask questions.” 

Also present at the opening was Sister Adair Aparecida Sberga, director and first vice president of the National Association of Catholic Education (ANEC), who praised the choice of theme, which, she said, contributes to the development of public and private education. “This year’s theme is a necessity in today’s world, as we are experiencing a transformation in work and education. The choice couldn’t be better,” she emphasized.

Bett Brasil runs through Friday (May 12). Anyone wishing to visit the Bett Brasil 2023 exhibition area at the Transamerica Expo Center can simply register for free on-site to see and connect with the latest innovations from a wide range of education-related sectors. 

 

Did you like it? Share it on social media: