“Over the past two years, Bett Brasil has learned every day that it is possible to rebuild in order to reconnect with people, paths, and solutions,” said Claudia Valerio, director of Bett Brasil, as she opened Latin America’s largest education and technology event. Bett Brasil began today (10) and runs through next Friday (13) at the Transamérica Expo in São Paulo.

Cláudia highlighted the lessons learned during the pandemic and how the event managed to keep the educational community engaged by promoting online gatherings, experiences, and inspiration 365 days a year. “This year, the event is even bigger than the last edition, which was held in person, and this shows how the education sector is stronger and more eager for new developments,” said the director.

The opening ceremony of Bett Brasil was attended by Education Minister Victor Godoy, who took the opportunity to highlight the ministry’s efforts to promote learning recovery in the current context, while also aiming for digital transformation in the country’s education system. He highlighted the “Diagnostic and Formative Assessment Platform,” which was made available to all schools nationwide starting last year to monitor student performance throughout the school year and to organize schools’ instructional work.

The minister also highlighted the investment—approximately R$ 1.2 billion—that will be made in the Educa Mais Norte e Nordeste Program to promote access to educational policies in the region. Regarding the event, the minister emphasized its importance in uniting the education sector. “Bett Brasil is a unique opportunity to learn about innovations and forge meaningful partnerships,” said Godoy.

Also at the event’s opening, Jânio Macedo, manager of the Entrepreneurial Education Unit at Sebrae Nacional, spoke about the teacher training in entrepreneurial education promoted by the institution. “Our goal is to train teachers so they can help students develop entrepreneurial skills.” According to him, Sebrae has already reached more than 8 million students by training 500,000 teachers throughout Brazil. “Bett Brasil is geared toward educators, and I believe that, through them, it’s possible to transform the reality of Brazil,” said Macedo.

Also in attendance at the opening of Bett Brasil were the president of the National Union of Municipal Education Directors (UNDIME), Luiz Miguel Garcia; the secretary of education for the National Council of Education Secretaries (CONSED) and secretary of state for education for the Federal District, Hélvia Paranaguá; and the vice president of the National Federation of Private Schools (FENEP), Amábile Pacios.

“We are witnessing a renaissance in education thanks to Bett Brasil,” said Garcia, who emphasized that the innovation seen at the event goes beyond technological tools and is evident in countless initiatives by administrators and teachers who “turn possibilities into reality.” Helvia highlighted the achievement of bringing a delegation of 30 public school teachers from the Federal District to Bett Brasil and explained how the power to transform education is achieved through collaboration among educators—a fact evident throughout the four days of Bett Brasil. For her part, the vice president of FENEP emphasized how Bett created a space for the private school system to share its aspirations and challenges.

Exclusive – Bett Brasil hosted the preview screening of the documentary “Education for the Future,” directed by journalist Patrícia Travassos. “This is the first time the documentary has been shown to the public. “The idea is to encourage reflection on the impact of technology on education and to challenge viewers by showcasing students as protagonists and highlighting the need to connect the classroom with the reality surrounding the student,” said Patrícia.

After the screening of the documentary, student Rozana Barroso, who is one of the film’s subjects, shared her first impressions. “It was very moving. Filming the documentary was a really cool experience that brought together young people who are active in the fight for education in Brazil. This film will be a tool for change for many other young people,” said Rozana. She is the president of the Brazilian Union of High School Students, an organization representing 40 million students in elementary, high school, and college preparatory programs.

Managers' Forum - The panel discussion titled “The Post-Pandemic Educational Landscape: Social and Economic Aspects” kicked off the Managers' Forum at Bett Brasil 2022. The discussion was moderated by Miriam Leitão, a journalist specializing in economics, alongside sociologist and education consultant Cesar Callegari and Emílio Munaro, CEO of Global ME.

The journalist drew attention to the severe economic crisis Brazil is facing, which, as a result, is also affecting education. “We’re experiencing double-digit inflation. Inflation erodes families’ income and dims businesses’ prospects. It’s clear that education administrators are feeling the effects of this. The entire pandemic has been difficult; Brazil is an unequal country, but everyone has suffered as a result.”

As a solution to improve access to and the quality of national education, Miriam is adamant that this is not possible without effectively reducing inequalities and promoting inclusion. “I don’t believe in education that doesn’t prioritize inclusion. We must invest in the fight against inequality and understand that what was an urgent issue in education before the pandemic is now an emergency. We have more children out of school, more people disconnected from education, more situations of vulnerability, and students without access to technology and with learning difficulties.”

During his panel discussion, Cesar Callegari cited two recent publications that converge on a specific point: the need to develop a new pedagogy—a method that encourages collaborative and participatory practices. “School curricula need to change; they need to be more integrated. It is essential to train teachers and to defend and protect schools. Schools are irreplaceable spaces,” he says. The publications cited by the expert are “Reinventing Our Future Together,” by UNESCO, and “Education Now 2022,” by the organization Todos pela Educação.

New High School

The new high school curriculum was also the subject of a panel discussion at the Administrators’ Forum. On that occasion, Rossieli Soares, former minister and former secretary of education for the state of São Paulo, highlighted the need for a new school model that would appeal to young people. “High school is the level with the highest dropout rate. A joint assessment conducted in September 2020 revealed that 54% of young people felt unmotivated to study. In May of that same year, the percentage was 46%. This shows the magnitude of the challenge and the urgency of making changes.”

According to Rossieli, the challenge of creating a participatory school has grown even greater in the wake of the pandemic. The State of São Paulo began implementing the new system in 200 state schools in 2019. In 2021, during the pandemic, it expanded and improved the new high school program, which now includes 3,510 class hours and covers topics such as leadership and citizenship, culture, and entrepreneurship.

Amazonas was one of the first states to implement the new high school curriculum. One of the methods used in this program is the Educational Media Center, which brings learning to the most remote municipalities through distance learning. “Distance and geography are major challenges for the advancement of education in the state, but even so, we have invested in it, and today it is a reality,” says Maria Josepha Penella Pêgas Chaves, Secretary of Education for the State of Amazonas.

The new high school program in the region consists of a basic general education curriculum and specialized tracks divided into four areas: scientific innovation, creative processes, sociocultural mediation and intervention, and entrepreneurship. The state has six bilingual schools offering classes in English, Japanese, French, and Spanish, as well as maker labs. The new high school curriculum was approved in 2017 by Federal Law No. 13,415 for all of Brazil.

Bett Brasil Conference — One of the key topics discussed on the first day of the conference was the 2030 Agenda for Education, established in 2015, which aims to outline priorities and goals for achieving sustainable development worldwide across various sectors.

Cláudia Costin, director general of the Getúlio Vargas Foundation’s Center for Excellence and Innovation in Educational Policy and former director of education at the World Bank, shared her reflections on this agenda and education in Brazil at the Bett Brasil conference. The expert emphasizes that the proposal highlights the importance of inclusive, equitable, and high-quality learning. “We seek a quality education in which everyone can learn, regardless of their financial and social circumstances. This is paramount.” According to the PISA assessment, Brazil has been stagnant for years and ranks as the second most unequal country among the 79 participants in the assessment.

One of the goals proposed by the agenda addresses an issue common to many countries, including Brazil: school dropout rates. According to Cláudia, only 69% of young people in the country complete high school at the appropriate age. Another objective is to ensure access to high-quality early childhood education programs, as well as to foster knowledge and skills for a sustainable world.

Costin notes that there have been advances in education over the past few decades. The Basic Education Index (IDEB) has shown positive growth since 2005 in Elementary School, and in the 2019 assessment, High School also showed a significant improvement compared to previous years. The speaker highlights some global trends in education, such as a focus on collaborative problem-solving through critical thinking, more flexible curricula, interdisciplinary approaches, and hybrid learning. Looking ahead, Cláudia identifies educational and professional training to meet new technological demands as the main challenge.

To accelerate these changes, Rodrigo Giorgi Reis, director of the Global Attitude Institute, explains that it is necessary to encourage students and teachers to share their experiences. “When we put the student at the center, we motivate them to take on different roles. The same applies to teachers, who need to be motivated and have access to ongoing professional development.” Reis notes that integrating the topic into curricula and textbooks, as well as encouraging the formation of groups such as student councils, youth parliaments, field trips, volunteer programs, and “living labs,” among other practical initiatives, fosters engagement with the subject.

Another key topic presented at the conference was the importance of women’s participation in education. Rita Jobim, educational coordinator of the Educational Leadership Training Program at the Lemann Center; Débora Garofalo, manager of Technology and Innovation at the São Paulo State Department of Education; Ana Maria Diniz, president of the Península Institute; and Adriana Junqueira, a volunteer in social initiatives related to education, discussed the lack of women in leadership positions in the field, the social barriers they face every day, and ways to combat structural sexism in society.

Exhibition - In addition to its content program, Bett Brasil serves as a platform for the launch of technology solutions, methodologies, and equipment from more than 270 brands. The metaverse, startups dedicated to school management, and other initiatives that promote the use of technology and hybrid learning, active methodologies such as Maker and STEAM, the development of social-emotional skills, and bilingual education at all levels—from early childhood education to higher education.

The complete schedule for Bett Brasil is available on the event's website at https://brasil.bettshow.com/bett-brasil/edicao-presencial.

About Bett Brasil

Bett Brasil is the largest education and technology event in Latin America. It is part of the global Bett Show series organized by the Hyve Group, one of the world’s leading organizers of events considered industry benchmarks. Bett aims to inspire and discuss the future of the sector and the role of technology and innovation in the education of educators and students.

About Hyve Group

The Hyve Group was founded in 1991 and is now one of the world’s leading organizers of international trade shows, conferences, and events. The Hyve Group’s primary strategic vision is to build a global portfolio of events grounded in high-quality content, delivering an excellent experience and ROI (return on investment) to its clients. Hyve strives to deliver the best services to clients worldwide, regardless of location. It places exhibitors and visitors at the center of its efforts and drives sustainable growth for its investors. Hyve Group is a publicly traded company that has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1998.

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