The 5th edition ofthe Bett Nordeste Conferenceconcluded this Thursday (20) at the Recife Expo Center, drawing a record-breaking crowd of more than 2,500 participants—a 20% increase over the previous edition. The event brought together educators, administrators, experts, and companies in the sector for a program focused on the challenges and transformations in education, featuring discussions on artificial intelligence, inclusion, innovation, learning, and the human dimension that remains at the heart of the ongoing changes.

For Adriana Martinelli, Director of Content at Bett Brasil, the 2026 edition fulfilled its purpose of bringing together the various stakeholders in the sector and strengthening exchanges among education professionals. “We were able to foster meaningful connections, new encounters, and reunions. I see the Northeast Conference as a preview, a wake-up call, and a way to raise awareness that, at Bett Brasil, there will be even more opportunities for learning and networking,” she said.

Alessandra Borelli , a lawyer specializing in digital law, opened the second day’s lecture series in the Plenary Auditorium with a presentation titled “Educating in a World Designed to Distract.” In addressing the challenges posed by technology in the school environment, the expert highlighted the importance of institutional policies, guidelines, and protocols to guide teachers, administrators, and families in dealing with digital incidents, and argued that schools must be prepared to respond to these situations with predefined decision-making processes.

“Rather than trying to keep students away from screens, the challenge is to develop skills for the conscious and responsible use of technology—which is more than welcome, as long as there are policies and guidelines in place and everyone is on the same page. It’s not about defeating the screen; we need to embrace its presence,” he emphasized.

Alessandra Borelli in the Plenary Auditorium during the Bett Nordeste Conference. Photo: Bett Brasil.

In the Public Education auditorium, Maraína Fernandes, São Paulo’s secretary of education, and Carla Mauch, general coordinator of Mais Diferenças – Inclusive Education and Culture, participated in the panel discussion “Inclusion Means Transformation: Paths Toward a School That Learns from Diversity, ” moderated by journalist Gabriela Castello Buarque.

Maraína emphasized that inclusion requires a transformation of the school itself, with changes in its culture, instructional planning, and teacher training. “It is not the student who has to fit the mold; rather, it is the school that must understand which barriers need to be overcome so that this student can truly be included, gain autonomy, and learn,” she said.

In the Public Education Auditorium, Kadu Lins, CEO of the Autism Institute, spoke on the topic “Understanding to Embrace, ” emphasizing that effective inclusion in schools depends, above all, on understanding the needs of neurodivergent individuals.

According to him, despite the growing number of neurodivergent students in public schools and the search for strategies to address everyday challenges, there is still a lack of knowledge on the subject. “True inclusion comes when we understand what we’re doing; the idea is to share a little bit of knowledge so that they can take actions that will be effective for those families,” he explained.

For Kadu Lins, true inclusion requires an understanding of the needs of neurodivergent people. Photo: Bett Brasil.

In the Plenária Auditorium, the influential educator Débora Garofalo, from the Department of Education, discussed the topic “Far Beyond Artificial Intelligence: Why Human Learning Will Be the Greatest Competitive Advantage of the Future, ” emphasizing the need to understand technology in a critical and ethical manner and to integrate it into the educational process.

The teacher’s role remains essential in instilling values, facilitating the acquisition of knowledge, and developing skills such as creativity, empathy, autonomy, and critical thinking. “AI does not replace planning, but it gives teachers time to do what only they can do: care for students, instill values, give meaning to what students are learning, and facilitate the acquisition of knowledge,” he emphasized.

Débora Garofalo emphasized the importance of using technology critically and ethically. Photo: Bett Brasil.

In the Aquário auditorium, the roundtable discussion titled “The school of the future isn’t digital, inclusive, or innovative. It’s human—and that’s why it needs to be all of those things at the same time” brought together the trio from CESAR School: André Lopes, senior analyst for Educational Solutions; Professor Luciano Meira; and Carla Alexandre, manager of Educational Solutions.

The discussion addressed the impacts of artificial intelligence, highlighting the need to rethink learning practices and experiences in light of new technologies. For Luciano Meira, AI should be understood as more than just a tool: “It is a cognitive infrastructure, so it changes the way you view knowledge. New uses of technology—such as students writing essays and summaries—bring about profound changes in the educational system and require strategies that do not seek to avoid artificial intelligence, but rather to promote its most productive and healthy uses,” he says.

Luciano Meira and Carla Alexandre discussed the impact of AI on education. Photo: Bett Brasil.

Meanwhile, poet and bestselling author Allan Dias Castrodelivered an inspiring lecture titled “The Human Being Behind the Name Tag” in the Plenária Auditorium. In a reflection that brought together education, learning, innovation, and the future from a human perspective, Castro used poetry to discuss essence, vulnerability, mental health, and dreams.

“We end up becoming so competitive that we live in fear of losing, but behind every professional there’s a story—with challenges, feelings, and dreams—that also need to be taken into account,” he said.

Allan Dias Castro used poetry to talk about essence, vulnerability, mental health, and dreams. Photo: Bett Brasil.

Schools in Action

On the second day of presentations on successful school initiatives, educators shared experiences focused on transforming everyday school life, bringing together strategies to consolidate learning, strengthen institutional culture, and engage staff in the development of new educational models.

Alena Nobre, academic director at Colégio Saber Viver, shared a practice of conducting weekly digital quizzes to reinforce the material covered in class, encourage self-directed learning, and develop students’ metacognition.

Sybele Barros Soares, unit director at Colégio CBV, presented the process of rebuilding the school culture following an institutional and disciplinary crisis, integrating the pursuit of academic excellence with the strengthening of ethical conduct.

Paula Carneiro Leão, director of communications and innovation at Escola Vila Aprendiz, shared her experience with a hackathon involving teachers and the educational staff, designed to collectively envision a school capable of meeting the needs of students today and in the future.

A new feature at the Bett Conference, “Schools in Action” highlighted positive educational experiences. Photo: Bett Brasil.

The Bett Nordeste event also served as an opportunity for visitors from other regions to gain firsthand insight into the unique characteristics of the region’s education market. Consultant Priscila Facci traveled from São Paulo to attend the event. “We’ve participated in Bett Brasil in São Paulo for the past four years, and this is our first time at Bett Nordeste. It’s been a very valuable experience for understanding how the market works here, discovering opportunities that often don’t receive the same visibility, and seeking out promising investments in companies that are making a difference,” she said.

The next edition of Bett Brasil will take place May 4–7, 2027, at Expo Center Norte in São Paulo. Another initiative is the Bett Delegation, which will offer an international immersion in education and innovation in Portugal and England from January 13 to 22, 2027.

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