The first day of Bett Brasil 2022—Latin America’s largest event for innovation and technology in education—filled the Transamérica Expo Center pavilion in São Paulo with excitement. The big day had finally arrived: the long-awaited reunion of the educational community, after two years apart due to the coronavirus pandemic. From early on, the aisles of the exhibition hall were filled with repeated scenes of kisses, hugs, and shouts of joy—which quickly gave way to attentive, focused gazes inside the four auditoriums where the Congress and Administrators’ Forum lectures were taking place.

The opening ceremony began promptly at 11:30 a.m. and reflected this sense of renewal. Bett Brasil Director Claudia Valério recalled the difficult times at the very beginning of this long journey and paid tribute to those who were no longer with us, remembering in particular Bett Brasil Board Member Miguel Thompson, who passed away last year.

“We are no longer the same. But we have kept the flame of Bett’s purpose alive and managed to get this far. And now we need to carry on the work of those who have left us and contribute more and more to the legacy they left behind. Despite the negative aspects of the pandemic, we must continue to build and co-create education,” said Claudia Valério.

The ceremony’s panel included the Minister of Education, Victor Godoy Veiga; the president of SEBRAE Nacional, Carlos Melles; the president of the National Union of Municipal Education Directors (UNDIME), Luiz Miguel Garcia; the Secretary of Education of the National Council of Education Secretaries (CONSED) and Secretary of State for Education of the Federal District, Hélvia Paranaguá, and the Vice President of the National Federation of Private Schools (FENEP), Amábile Pacios.

From now on, the challenge is to make up for the learning gap

After a 20-year absence, a Minister of Education is once again attending the event. Education Minister Victor Godoy Veiga toured the exhibitor area, where the Ministry of Education (MEC) has a booth, and also participated in the opening ceremony. In his speech, he highlighted the importance of the three pillars of the policy implemented by his ministry in the federal government: assessing learning gaps, combating school dropout rates, and improving connectivity in Brazilian education.

“My job as head of the ministry is to implement the post-pandemic education recovery plan. Our guiding principle is to work toward learning recovery and the digital transformation of Brazilian education,” Godoy summarized, highlighting recent investments in the “Educação Conectada” program—which is set to be rolled out nationwide by the end of this year—and in the creation ofthe MEC’s diagnostic and formative assessment platform 

For his part, Carlos Melles, president of SEBRAE Nacional, highlighted the work carried out in recent years to identify best practices in entrepreneurial education across the country, which culminates during Bett Brasil with the presentation of the SEBRAE Entrepreneurial Education Award. Now in its second year, the award features 50 finalists, representing projects from all Brazilian states. The names of the national winners will be announced on May 12 during the event.

Visibly moved, Luiz Miguel Garcia, president of the National Union of Municipal Education Directors (UNDIME), highlighted the moment as one of the milestones in the rebirth of Brazilian education, demonstrating the commitment of educators across the country. “Thank you to everyone who kept the flame of education—and, consequently, of hope—alive,” the leader said.