Brasília, 13/1/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Infant Education is the priority at the Ministry of Education. The program of the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is to get every child from the age of four in school.

In an Agencia Brasil interview, minister of Education, Cristovam Buarque, called himself, "the minister of Education and Children. Not just children who are in school, but also, and mainly, those who are not in school."

An investment in infant education means economy in elementary education, said the minister, as he announced that he would like to provide all needy families with children of less than 5 years of age with assistance to ensure food for all of them. Buarque also said that poor children need educational toys. "Children need toys to feed their souls," he declared. (AB)