Carolina Pimentel
Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, speaking during his weekly radio program, Café com o Presidente, declared once again that it is important for Congress to approve the government's basic education and teacher fund (Fundo de Manutenção e Desenvolvimento da Educação Básica e de Valorização dos Profissionais da Educação) (Fundeb) during the special legislative session this month.

The creation of the fund requires a constitutional amendment that has already been approved in committee.

"Although this is an election year, I hope Congress will vote on what is good for the country. We do not want to lose another year. That will not be good for Brazilian children, or for Brazil. We need to get funding to day care centers, and elementary and high school education," said Lula.

Translation: Allen Bennett