Brazil Concludes Pro Tempore Presidency with Education Milestones
Brazil concludes its 2025 Pro Tempore Presidency of regional education cooperation, emphasizing border education, sustainable school meals, and literacy initiatives.
- • Brazil hosted the 67th meeting of Education Ministers including Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina.
- • Focus areas: border education, sustainable school feeding, early childhood education, and literacy.
- • Program Escolas Interculturais de Fronteira promotes bilingual and intercultural education.
- • National School Feeding Program serves over 40 million students with 30% budget for local agriculture.
Key details
On October 22, 2025, Brazil's Ministry of Education (MEC) wrapped up its Pro Tempore Presidency of regional education cooperation with a comprehensive review of achievements and initiatives. The 67th ordinary meeting of Education Ministers convened delegations from Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina (via videoconference) to assess the progress made in key policy areas during Brazil's leadership in the second half of 2025. Secretary-executive Leonardo Barchini, representing Minister Camilo Santana, underscored Brazil's focus on education in border regions to promote regional integration, implementation of sustainable school feeding policies, and early childhood and literacy initiatives aimed at social equity.
A flagship initiative highlighted at the meeting was the Program Escolas Interculturais de Fronteira, fostering bilingual and intercultural education in border municipalities, strengthening cultural ties in the region. Brazil's National School Feeding Program was affirmed as a critical success, providing daily meals to over 40 million students and directing 30% of its budget to local agriculture, thus supporting health and school retention. Additionally, the National Commitment for Literacy, launched in 2023 with a substantial R$ 2 billion investment, seeks to ensure that all children achieve literacy by the end of the second year of primary school.
The meeting also emphasized the importance of sustained regional cooperation through over 30 meetings among member countries and the preceding Regional Coordinating Committee gathering, illustrating Brazil's leadership role in shaping South American educational policies and programs.