Carolina Pimentel
Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília – The federal government should inaugurate 25 new professional training schools in 2006, declared president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during his first radio broadcast of 2006 in which he highlighted his administration's action in the educational area.

"I have made it clear that in the area of education we do not spend money, we invest it," said the president. "We spend money to build prisons."

Lula said R$150 million had been earmarked for expanding federal professional and technological education schools so they can receive an additional 67,000 students. Plans are for some 40 new schools to be opened in 2006, including at least five agricultural technical courses.

Translation: Allen Bennett