The federal government has enacted the law establishing the National Education System (SNE), which provides for cooperation among the federal government, the states, the Federal District, and municipalities in the formulation and integrated implementation of educational policies.

The bill, which has been debated in Congress for more than three years, aims to make access to basic education universal and ensure a standard of quality for all public schools in the country.

Just as the Unified Health System (SUS) organizes the management of the health sector, the SNE seeks to create a coordinated governance structure for education.

“We can obtain real-time information and help this child progress, enable educators in the classroom to grow as well, and improve conditions in schools. It is a positive collaboration among federal entities to bring about this revolution in Brazilian education,” said President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during the signing ceremony.

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Among the main objectives of the new system are the eradication of illiteracy, the equalization of educational opportunities, the recognition of education professionals, and the implementation of education plans at all levels of the federal government.

The law also addresses the specific conditions of indigenous and Quilombola education, reinforcing the commitment to diversity and equity.

The text also establishes the Student Quality Cost (CAQ) as the benchmark for the minimum investment per student in basic education. The calculation will take into account the budget of each state, local needs, federal government supplements to Fundeb, and other additional sources.

Here are three important points to understand about the SNE:

• What changes in practice regarding the management of education among the federal government, states, and municipalities?

The main change is the creation of formal forums for dialogue and negotiation, known as Interagency Committees. The Tripartite Interagency Commission on Education (CITE), which operates at the national level, will be responsible for agreeing on the division of responsibilities among federal entities and approving the methodology for calculating the CAQ. The Bipartite Interagency Commission on Education (CIBE), which operates at the state level, will agree on the coordination between the state and its municipalities.

These forums for agreement are modeled after the SUS management model, in which different levels of government jointly negotiate responsibilities and priorities.

• What changes will there be in students' daily lives and regarding school data and records?

The law establishes the National Education Data Infrastructure (INDE) to integrate educational data and make it more secure. The main practical impact is that the Individual Taxpayer Registry (CPF) will serve as the Unique National Student Identifier (INUE), which must be used in all databases and administrative records.

This will make it possible to track a student’s educational journey from preschool through college, helping to identify school dropouts, for example, so that active outreach policies can be developed. In addition, the change will improve transparency and educational management.

• When will the SNE take effect, and when will the changes be felt?

The SNE Law took effect on the date of its publication. However, the collaboration mechanisms will be implemented in phases. The Interagency Committees (Cite and Cibes) must be established and operational within 90 (ninety) days.

All subnational governments (states, municipalities, etc.) have up to 2 (two) years to bring their legal and administrative regulations into compliance with the new law.

Although the law is already in effect, its practical effects will be felt gradually, as state and local governments establish the commissions and adjust their systems.

Source: Agência Brasil and G1.

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