Elementary education consists of one of the levels of basic education, mandatory in Brazil. It lasts for nine years and is mostly aimed at people aged between 6 and 14 years.
The main objective of elementary education is the basic education of citizens. According to Article 32 of Law No. 9394/2006, the Law of Guidelines and Bases of Education (LDB) of Brazil, it is necessary that the student already have mastery of reading and writing for development and the ability to obtain new knowledge through these skills.
It is also necessary for the student to have an understanding of the social environment in which he is inserted and to be able to evolve this sociability skill and the values that underpin society.
Elementary education is part of the school education provided for in the Law of Guidelines and Bases of Education, which comprises the following stages: early childhood education, elementary education and higher education.
Mandatory teaching
The law determines that enrollment in elementary school is
mandatory, being a joint responsibility between those responsible for the child and the government.It is up to the parents or guardians of the students to enroll, while the State is responsible for guaranteeing the supply of the necessary number of places in public schools. However, this educational service can also be offered by private education.
Changes in elementary education
The mandatory duration of elementary education has been extended to nine years due to Bill No. 3.675/04, which, after approval, was transformed into Ordinary Law 11.274/2006.
This law now includes the literacy class, which previously corresponded to the first grade and belonged to early childhood education.
elementary school division
Thus, the division of elementary education is as follows:
- Initial years: they correspond to the series taken from the 1st to the 5th year, aimed at children between 6 and 10 years old, the first year being the literacy class.
- Final years: comprise grades 6 to 9 for children and young people between 11 and 14 years old.
The education systems offered by schools can also split elementary education into cycles, provided that the minimum annual workload of 800 hours be respected.
The school must provide at least 200 effective days of classes, lasting at least 4 hours a day.
Objectives of elementary school
According to the LDB, the school goals that must be achieved by students by the end of elementary school are as follows:
- Development of your learning ability (writing, reading and calculating).
- Perception of the values that make up society: social environment, arts, technology and political system.
- Understanding the importance of solidarity, tolerance and family bonds as essential bases for society.
The LDB also provides that from the 6th year onwards, the offer of the English Language subject in the elementary school curriculum is mandatory. The teaching of history, Afro-Brazilian and indigenous culture is also mandatory.
See also the meanings of high school, University education, education level and schooling.