An MOU in Education between the Brazilian and British governments was signed by Minister Haddad and former Under-Secretary Ruth Kelly earlier this year during President Lula´s state visit to the UK.
The British Council has developed over the last 10 years a very fruitful partnership with CONSED, the National Council of State Secretaries of Education, who are the highest education authorities in the states.
The principle of the collaboration is to enable the two countries to share experiences and improve their quality of education. The majority of the projects focus on school leadership, school self evaluation and English teachers training. In the last 10 years more than 200 headteachers and teachers in Brazil and in the UK have benefited from the collaboration, sharing experience and learning from each other..
“Meeting the British Headteachers made me change my perspective about education; it has brought a burst of energy and motivation to the school and to me, making us want to keep improving ” Maristelia Alves Santos, Headteacher (Colégio Estadual CAIC – Palmas TO)
“Sharing experiences is very positive, and together we found out that although our realities may be different, we share the same problems.” Ramilton de Oliveira Cordeiro, Headteacher Colégio Estadual Raphael Serravale – Salvador, BA.
“I learnt that partnerships are very important. I am now putting more effort into finding partners for my school and increasing the exchange of good practice!”, Rogério José Lopes Headteacher Escola Estadual Ruy Pimenta – Contagem MG.
“The visit by the English headteachers has contributed enormously to enhance staff and students’ self esteem. They feel valued and willing to work more closely to improve our school and make it a better place to be in”. Kleber Alcantara Queiroz Headteacher (Centro de Ensino Médio de Palmas – TO).
The results of these visits (mostly under IPH and TIPD schemes) led to the implementation of new self evaluation systems in various schools around Brazil, directly impacting on the quality of teaching and learning. HMIE (HM Inspectorate of Education Scotland) had a central role in a school self evaluation project developed with the State of Ceará.
More than 30 thousand children in Brazil have benefited from this partnership.
Last November Consed and the British Council signed an MOU not only to consolidate the partnership, but also to expand opportunities for future partnerships and cooperationSchool Leadership, School Self-evaluation, Education Indicators, Capacity building for English Teachers, Social Inclusion and Citizenship are just a few of the areas in which the two countries can work, through this partnership.
This year, for the first time a major Regional Project is being implemented. It focuses on School leadership and New Tools for Learning and it involves 9 countries in Latin America the Caribbean and the UK.
A group of around 40 educationalists from LAC visited UK in November under the project. They spent a week visiting schools, Local Authorities and the National College for School Leadership in Nottingham, where they were met by Director Steve Munby. In Brazil the project will be piloted in 5 states, 25 schools, involving more than 2,5000 children.
The MoU will not only enable a greater collaboration between UK and Brazil in education and promote mutual benefits, but also enhance BC profile in Brazil who increasingly looks to the UK as a world authority on the international dimension of education.
Sitting down: President of Undime, Maria do Pilar Lacerda Almeida e Silva and Minister Fernando Haddad, Education
Standing: David Cordingley, Director British Council Brazil and Consed President, Prof Mozart Ramos Neves
Photo: João Pedro Gebrim, Consed Public Relaitons
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