New PAC allocates BRL 45 billion to the areas of Education and Science & Technology

Prioritizing the construction of daycare centers and full-time schools, in addition to the modernization and expansion of federal institutes and universities, the areas of Education and Science and Technology should receive, over the next four years, a federal contribution of R$ 45 billion, in the context of the New Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), announced this Friday (11) by President Squid. In all, the PAC should total investments of R$ 1.7 trillion in the aforementioned period.

In two stages, this amount provides for investments of BRL 36.7 billion to the aforementioned areas in the period from 2023 to 2026 and another BRL 8.3 billion after 2026. The forecast is that actions such as encouraging students to remain in schools will also be contemplated; literacy at the right age and scientific production in the country, not to mention support for the population's access to spaces for culture, sport and leisure, with a view to stimulating social interaction and reducing violence.

With regard specifically to Basic Education, the new PAC should rely on investments of R$ 26.4 billion, of which R$ 21.4 billion from 2023 to 2026, and the remaining R$ 5 billion after 2026, aimed at the programs 'Educação em Tempo Integral', 'Literacy at the Right Age' (through the Escola em Tempo Integral Program) and the 'National Child Commitment' Literate'

In the field of professional and technological education, the expectation is that R$ 3.9 billion will be allocated to the installation of new campuses, as well as to the conclusion of federal institutes throughout the country, with an emphasis on keeping students in institutions and expanding the professional and technological education network, with priority given to those places that do not have education coverage public. In general, the intention is to offer conditions for greater integration between secondary and technical education, through of tools that imply social development, with emphasis on social arrangements and production chains locations.

Higher education will receive federal investments of R$ 4.5 billion by the New PAC, with priority given to the consolidation and restructuring of universities and university hospitals in the country, in particular, for the installation of new higher education campuses and for the resumption and conclusion of the works that were stops. The program also guarantees better conditions for the functioning of the network of university hospitals and for training medical and multidisciplinary approach, with an increase in the care capacity and quality of services in the Unified Health System (SUS).

The area of ​​innovation and technology, in turn, should have investments of R$ 10.2 billion, over the next four years, in the construction of centers advanced facilities for scientific research and technological development, aiming to increase the Brazilian capacity to produce knowledge and innovation technologies, not to mention the implementation, expansion and modernization of agricultural research laboratories at the Brazilian Research Corporation Agriculture (Embrapa).