Education & Schooling in São Paulo, Brazil

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Education & Schooling in São Paulo, Brazil

As in most countries, Brazilian schools are divided between those that are state run and those that are privately controlled. Brazil’s economic status as a developing nation means that the Federal Government is in the process of developing the state system. Unfortunately, given the size of the country, both geographically and in terms of population, this is an enormous task and there is still a long way to go. As a result, wherever domestic finances allow, children are sent through the private school system.

Education in Brazil is regulated at a Federal level with the Ministry of Education (Ministério de Educação) being the overseeing body.

Organisation and Structure of Schools

Pre-school education

Pre-school education (Educação Infantil) is entirely optional and for pre-school children there is a choice between: 

• Maternal, or state-run crèches, for children aged two to five 
• Jardim, for children from three to six years of age

The Maternal is basically a playgroup, whereas Jardim has a more academic focus for small children. The school meets with the parents and child before enrollment and depending on the academic and social skills of the child, the school will advise parents on where it feels the child will best fit in. All state pre-schools and nurseries are free of charge.

Primary and lower secondary education

In Brazil it is mandatory for children to go to school from age 6 to 14. Children under the age of six may be enrolled as long as they turn six in the first semester. 

These compulsory nine years of education are known as Fundamental Education (Ensino Fundamental) and are divided into two levels: 

1. Ensino Fundamental I 
2. Ensino Fundamental II

A core curriculum is set by the Education Council. 

During the Ensino Fundamental I children study mathematics, Portuguese, science, arts, history, geography and physical education. During Ensino Fundamental II pupils also study at least one other compulsory language.

• Further information from the Ministry of Education: Click here (in Portuguese)

The normal practice in Brazilian schools, both public and private, is to mix all academic levels together in the same class.

Under the state system, an exam is given to all pupils at the end of each academic year to determine whether the child will move on to the next year, or whether they will be held back to repeat a year. It's not unusual to hold a child back, which means that the age mixture of classes is often quite varied.

Depending upon the pedagogic philosophy of the private school, children may be required to return and repeat a year although this is not a very common practice these days. If it becomes obvious that a child is not managing to keep up with the advance in learning levels of their classmates, the school will speak to the parents about options involving other academic systems.

There are some privately-run schools which divide a year into levels of academic ability for classes in line with the British state model, for instance. This is however becoming less common as the private schools adopt more tightly controlled pedagogic models.

Upper secondary education  

Upper secondary education (Ensino Médio) is for young people aged 15 to 18. On top of the core curriculum subjects studied during Ensino Fundamental, students will also study philosophy and sociology. 

The courses provided during this period are essentially designed to allow a young person to enter into a (usually public) university. The courses can be conducted either at the private school the child has been attending up until this point, or at specific colleges which train youngsters to take the specific entrance exam set by a specific university. Students can also choose to take professional training at the same time.

• Further information from the Ministry of Education: Click here (in Portuguese)

Higher education (Ensino superior)

Once a student has successfully completed secondary education they may continue their studies at a public or private university. To enter a public university, students must sit an entrance exam known as vestibular. Entrance exams to a private university are often little more than a formality and as a consequence, public university degrees are valued much more highly than those from private institutions.

Home schooling early years

Brazilian law demands that a child start their compulsory education at six years old. Should the parents feel that the schooling options available where they live are insufficient for their child’s needs, they may apply to the government for the right to provide their own education at home. This is a lengthy process involving the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Education.

Private Schools

Within the private school system, numerous pedagogies can be found from which to choose a child’s educational direction. These systems are largely based on existing European models and essentially focus on the degree of attention placed on the arts and humanities versus the scientific and technical subjects, while attitudes towards disciplinary measures and the rigidity of teaching methods also varies.

Enrolment in State or Private Schools

In state schools, children attend the school closest to their place of residence. Parents need to go directly to the school to start the registration process (matriculate).

Insurance is not required for a child to enter state school; in private schools the school advises prospective parents on what's required. There are no mandatory vaccinations to enroll a child in state school, although some private schools may have their own requirements. 

Federal law demands that all schools, state and private, file the personal details of all children starting studies and that this data is kept updated each year. This information includes full name, date and place of birth, parentage, residence contact details, a recent passport-size photograph and a medical history including most recent tetanus booster (if applicable) and blood type.

The parents should also provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate for the school’s records.

Private schools generally charge an enrolment fee called a matrícula. This is usually the equivalent of the monthly school fee. It is charged at the beginning of every academic year. This means that there are actually 13 monthly fees to be paid. If a school does not charge the matrícula, it will probably explain that it is absorbed into the 12 monthly fees.

School Hours

Regardless of the system, be it public or private, most schools divide their academic day into three sessions, which may run (more or less) between 07:00 and 12:00, 12:00 and 17:00, and 17:00 and 22:00. A child will only attend one session per school day.

Some schools may offer just one of these sessions, some may offer the morning and afternoon sessions, others may provide all three.

This system is usually implemented in order to cope with the number of children enrolled, and the individual school may have classrooms designated for a certain age group, with one class following another of a similar age in the same space. Other schools may teach young children during one session with the older children taking over the spaces at different times, or vice-versa. 

Collection from School and After School Care

Parents with children in private schools are often able to make arrangements for nannies or housekeepers to look after children once school has finished or before it starts (depending upon the period most suitable/available for the child). Traditional Latin family structures, also means that another common arrangement is for the child’s grandparents to take care of them during the time the parents are at work.

Arrangements for collecting children from schools also vary. Private schools usually ask parents to make a formal arrangement with them, detailing who will be authorised to collect the child or children. Depending upon the proximity of the school to the child’s home, a nanny or housekeeper may collect the children; some families employ a driver.

Many people make arrangements with other parents of children who study together to drop off and pick up the children on alternate days.

International Schooling and Foreign Language Students

Most private schools welcome foreign language students – a practice which is good for the visiting children as well as providing an enriching experience for the regular students. Indeed, a number of private schools actively encourage the integration of visiting students from overseas through exchange programs.

Although many of the teachers have at least limited English-language skills, special provisions are not made for the visiting students during classes. For this reason, it is highly recommended that if a student is spending any significant period of time at a Brazilian school, private Portuguese language classes be arranged. The school itself will be able to make recommendations for private classes, either internally at the school or externally by qualified teachers who can visit the student's home.

Most large cities have international schools. The American School in Rio de Janeiro and St-Paul’s School in São Paulo, are two of the better known private schools in the country.

International schools demand that English or the target language (sometimes German or Japanese) is spoken at all times around the school grounds and the education provided is often geared towards the students winning places at universities overseas.

Special Education Needs

There are no official special considerations made for children with physical disabilities or learning difficulties in the state school system, although some schools may recognise certain learning needs and make arrangements for special classes.

In the private school system, the vast majority of institutions recognise the need for special facilities and many are in the process of reformation in order to accommodate wheelchairs. These schools will also be happy to discuss arrangements for children with learning difficulties or suggest alternative private schools in the region which can better accommodate individual needs.

School Terms and Holidays

Brazilian law demands that every child between the ages of 6 and 14 receive at least 200 days schooling per year. It is up to the individual school to decide on the division of this academic year across the calendar year.

The only other legal stipulations which the government make are for July to be a holiday month and that there should be another break, called a Recesso Escolar at the end of the year.

The academic year therefore usually starts in early February, but this depends upon when Carnival falls that particular year. This widely celebrated national holiday and festival can fall on any Wednesday during the month of February. If it falls at the beginning of the month, the school term will start immediately following it; if it falls at the end of the month, schools will usually start at the beginning of February and have a short break for Carnival festivities as appropriate.

This first term of the year runs through until the end of June and the second term starts at the beginning of August. This term then continues until early December when the school summer/Christmas holiday starts to coincide with the Recesso. Within these terms schools will also schedule week-long half-term breaks, but the exact dates for these are up to the school itself.

All schools observe national holidays as well as Teacher's Day (on 15 October) and give the children the day off. If the holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, most private schools will also add the Monday or Friday in order to create a long weekend.

Further Information

• Brazilian Ministry of Education

0209cr