Adopt Eduardo

Words only have political impact when signed by leaders. During Eduardo Campos's wake, representatives of the Teachers' Union of Timbaúba, a city in Pernambuco, carried a banner with the phrase: "The day the children of the poor and the rich study in the same school, that day Brazil will be the country we want. Signed Eduardo Campos."

This statement shows that he was a different kind of candidate. First, because he believed in an ambitious goal for the country that the others hadn't envisioned; second, because he proposed an idea that requires long-term planning, which the other candidates rejected; and third, because he believed that the key to progress lies in quality education for all.

Had he lived a few more days, he would possibly have presented the strategy for how his government would begin building this Brazil, saying: “My government will adopt the schools in cities whose municipalities lack the financial and human resources to offer quality education to all their children. Provided that the request comes from the city and the process follows a pace defined by the federal government, according to the availability of financial and human resources.”

For these cities, I would send teachers from a National Career program with good salaries, rigorously selected, committed to exclusive dedication, and subject to periodic evaluations. I would build comfortable schools and equip them with the most modern information technology for the pedagogical field. I would ensure that all these schools had a full-time class schedule. And I would say that the cost of this revolution would be R$ 9.500 per student per year, compared to the current R$ 3.

In 20 years, assuming GDP growth of only 2% per year, the total cost for all schools in all cities would be 6,6% of GDP, serving the estimated 46 million students by 2034. Eduardo Campos' dream could be realized, and it would still leave 3,4% of the 10% of GDP foreseen by Law No. 13.005/14 of the National Education Plan (PNE) for other education expenses.

His statement embodies a possible dream for Brazil's wealth and technological capacity. Its realization required a president with long-term vision, the ability to engage in dialogue, and the skill to build the necessary political foundation. His death has left orphaned all those who dream of and believe in this proposal and see it as the path to building "the Brazil we want."

But a political leader doesn't die; he enters history, leaving behind his dreams and proposals so that others may continue his struggle. In this year of 2014, it would be good if one or more of the candidates would accept carrying Eduardo Campos's banner displayed on the banner during his funeral.

If, as seems likely, none of them are moved by the idea, either because they don't believe in the dream, consider it unfeasible, or simply don't want it, preferring to keep education a privilege for those who can afford it, Brazil will not give up. It will wait for another candidate who, in the future, will adopt Eduardo's example, because the cause will continue to live on even after his death.