A Bett Northeast Conference, a traveling edition held in Olinda (PE), concluded this Thursday (Sept. 28) after two days of reflection, dialogue, and discussions on the future of basic education in the country. The event is organized by Bett Brasil, the organizer of the largest event on innovation and technology in education in Latin America. The main theme was “Focus on Basic Education: Transformative Dialogues.”

“The Northeast is a region that undeniably contributes to the path of knowledge, which is so essential in a rapidly changing world. And education is no exception. That is why the focus on Basic Education and the other topics discussed at this conference were carefully chosen. To bring dialogue and best practices to the forefront, we relied on various experts and educators, as well as companies that provided services and solutions, fostering the transformation we need both inside and outside of schools,” said Adriana Martinelli, Director of Content at Bett Brasil.

The event featured more than 30 guest speakers, including officials, experts, and educators, who participated in panel discussions held on two simultaneous stages. The New High School Curriculum was one of the highlights on the second day of the Bett Nordeste Conference, with a panel discussion on “Challenges and Prospects for Implementing the New High School Curriculum,” featuring Hélio Daher, Secretary of Education for the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, and Rafael Herdy, a professor at the Pará State Department of Education . The discussion was moderated by Margarida Azevedo, a journalist specializing in education.

“It was interesting to discuss the New High School Curriculum during the panel from the perspective of someone working at the Department of Education and from my own perspective as a teacher. Because we realized where the shortcomings lie. The student as the protagonist, the learning paths they choose, and other issues haven’t truly reached the students. There is a link between the school level and public policy, but it is still very distant, and we need to bridge that gap. The dialogue regarding the New High School Curriculum did not take place in a satisfactory manner because it is also challenging for teachers to receive and implement these changes, make adjustments, and bring about the necessary transformation,” said Hélio Daher.

For Rafael Herdy, one of the central issues regarding this topic is investment. “The implementation of the New High School System depends on how the states view the changes proposed by the Ministry of Education, their vision for the future, and, essentially, the perspective that the Brazilian education system should adopt toward this New High School System. All of this requires investment to make it truly viable.”

With the aim of fostering dialogue on changes within the context of Basic Education, the Bett Nordeste Conference featured the panel discussion “Inclusive Education: Building a School for Everyone, Without Exception, ” featuring Jaíne Hellen Machnicki—an educator, speaker, and lawyer with autism who serves as legal director of the Super Cérebro Group—and Irene Reis, founder and president of the Reinventing Education Community. The discussion was moderated by journalist Adriana Amâncio, who specializes in covering education and early childhood.

“Talking about diversity means bringing to the forefront not only autism, but all people (and students) with disabilities, and how to build a school for everyone—beyond education itself. For example, how can we discuss ethnicity and cultural roots to re-educate the community and society, and also prepare teachers to embrace all forms of diversity,” said Machnicki, who also participated in the panel “How can we turn diversity into a lever for inclusion and ensure that all people are valued and included?” alongside Fabio Lidio, vice principal of Instruction and director of Inclusive Education at Intellectus Educação, and Adriana Martinelli, director of Content at Bett Brasil.

Regarding transformation in school teaching practices, the panel discussion “What steps should administrators and teachers take to promote a genuine transformation in school teaching practices?” featured Flávia Dal Bello, Pedagogical Coordinator, and Eukennya de Araújo Barbosa, a teacher at ETEPAM/Pernambuco Department of Education. For Eukennya, the discussion highlighted the triad involving administration, teachers, and students. “We must approach teaching with engagement, active listening, participation, and a focus on the student. To introduce innovations and transformations—such as new technologies and active methodologies—we must align these practices with students’ needs and, to do so, assess the degree of freedom management has to encourage teachers to recognize this transformation for the benefit of the students.”

For Flávia Dal Bello, this reflection makes it possible to discuss concerns and family involvement in educational institutions. “Any transformative practice must involve families, so that they come to the school to be trained and kept up to date on the pedagogical changes we want to implement. It also requires school leadership to support all teaching practices, the changes the school wants to implement, recognize the potential of the teaching team, and value teacher autonomy. Just as it is important to care for teachers’ mental health and ensure that they are heard and have a voice.”

Another important topic addressed at the Bett Nordeste Conference was “Inspiring Leaders in Schools Can Make a Difference,” presented during the Roundtable Discussion by Carla Alexandre, coordinator of Educational Projects at CESAR/UFPE, and Lucas Faleiros, director of Customer Success at isaac, and moderated by Mirella Araújo, a reporter for Jornal do Commercio.

“For inspiring leadership in schools, it is necessary to distinguish between what it means to be a leader and what it means to be a boss. Formal leadership is found in school management positions, which require the development of a range of skills and competencies, whereas informal leadership is characteristic of an engaged professional who possesses natural leadership abilities—abilities that should be harnessed to drive change in our institutions,” summarized the coordinator of Educational Projects at CESAR/UFPE.

To keep pace with changes in education, one of the key topics is “Crisis Management: How to Promote a Safe and Resilient School Environment?,” a lecture presented by Alessandra Borelli, partner and CEO of Opice Blum Academy, and Márcio da Costa, director of the Alfa e Beto Institute, which was once again moderated by Mirella Araújo of Jornal do Commercio.

Alessandra Borelli, one of the leading experts in digital law and data protection, with a specialization in innovative technologies and methodologies applied to education, focused her presentation on crisis management in schools, with a focus on the digital environment and the changes and demands that new technologies place on school governance.

“Compliance measures in the educational environment have proven to be an urgent necessity, both from a preventive and a reactive standpoint. Conflicts spread through the Internet and social media, issues related to the digital environment, and the monitoring of these conversations must be mitigated to prevent them from having a negative impact on the students themselves and on the educational mission. If prevention is better than cure, then when a cure is needed, we must have the right one,” said Borelli.

In the session titled “How Can Inspiring Leadership Challenge the ‘Status Quo’ and Shape a Different Future for Schools?”, Paula Leão, Principal of Escola Vila Aprendiz, addressed the importance of investing in people and preparing them to educate. “Leadership today faces challenges in making a difference in the current state of affairs. More than just buildings and walls, we need to invest in people and prepare them to be ready within this living organism called a school, and to forge bonds with the entire school community, which must include families,” said Leão, who participated in the panel alongside Leo Chaves, CEO of EAI Educa, with Adriana Martinelli serving as moderator.

Regarding “Highlights of Educational Transformations in Pernambuco, ” the panel brought three experts and educators to the stage: André Neves, a professor at UFPE; Rui Belfort, CEO of TDS Company; and Guilherme Cavalcanti, from the Pernambuco Secretariat of Economic Development. “The panel revisited innovative issues relevant to today, Pernambuco’s history, and offered insights into the innovative future of education,” Cavalcanti emphasized.

Exhibitors celebrate the traveling edition of Bett Brasil

“We’ve been participating in Bett Brasil events for two years now, and for us at isaac, it’s always very rewarding to be at a trade show of this magnitude, where we can present our key financial management solutions to a large number of school administrators. It’s also an excellent opportunity to talk with our partner schools, especially those in the Northeast region, where isaac is also a leader in financial solutions for schools,” said Lucas Faleiros, the fintech company’s Director of Customer Success.

Faleiros also highlighted the opportunity for Isaac to contribute, during the Bett Nordeste Conference, to discussions on topics relevant to the sector. On the first day of the event, as part of Bett Lab, he participated in the panel “How to Drive Your School’s Growth Through Technology Solutions.” “On the second day, isaac hosted a roundtable discussion on the topic ‘Inspiring Leaders in Schools Can Make a Difference,’ which aligns perfectly with the event’s purpose,” he added.

Carol Stancati, director of Skies Learning, commented on the traffic at the brand’s booth and the prospecting for new business. “We’re passionate about the Bett Nordeste event. It’s very intimate; we’re able to have very interesting exchanges with schools and other partners, and the plenary sessions bring us very close to the audience. We had a lot of interest at our booth, and we have very positive expectations regarding new business as well. We’ve even already scheduled meetings for next week,” she said.

The Alfa e Beto Institute also endorsed the touring edition in the Northeast region. “The Alfa e Beto Institute’s participation in the Bett Northeast Conference is very interesting and positive. We are launching the Omega Collection, designed specifically for the final years of elementary school, and the event provides an opportunity to engage with a knowledgeable audience. Events like this should take place more frequently in Brazil, as they bridge the gap between the academic world and those who implement education on the ground,” said Márcio da Costa, director of the Alfa e Beto Institute.

The exhibition area at the Bett Nordeste Conference also featured the brands SOMOS Educação, Árvore, Skies Learning, Zoom Education for Life, e-Schooling, MVC Editora, Lanchecard, Desk Móveis Escolares, ViewSonic, Educação Especial PE, TE Capital (Atheva), International School, STEP, Instituto Alfa e Beto, DMX Móveis, Fastrackids, Editora Futura, Estuda.com, CESAR School, Piraporiando, and Start Anglo Bilingual School. 

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