Brasília, March 9, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - In August the Ministry of Education (MEC) will review the Pluriannual Investment Plan (PPA) for the 2004-2007 period, according to the executive secretary of the Ministry, Fernando Haddad. The secretary participated today in the opening of the Brazil Education Forum, organized by the National Education Council.

"The idea is that, in August, we shall be able to review the activities and programs in our Pluriannual Plan. At this moment we are reviewing our budget to begin its execution so that each real invested in education produces the largest possible benefit for the populations that are touched," Haddad explained.

One of the items that should be strengthened in the review of the PPA is the incentive for the inclusion of Indian communities in the educational system. Haddad commented that, up to now, only five Indians in the entire country have reached the level of post-graduation. The Ministry of Education also intends to give priority to redeeming the country's social debt to some segments of the population. Which includes the fight against illiteracy, youth and adult education, and attention to the Indian and Afro-Brazilian populations.

The executive secretary of the MEC also mentioned other priorities of the Ministry for the first half of this year. Among them, reorganizing the MEC itself and resuming the debate on university reform. According to him, as well as defining the universities' role, together with institutions of higher education, questions such as the autonomy, financing, and evaluation of these institutions will be discussed.

Haddad insisted, nevertheless, that the MEC will not stand still while these issues are being defined. According to him, there are acts and decisions that cannot be neglected, even if they have to be revised later. (DAS)