Serra's project takes R$ 25 billion from Education per year.

From Rede Brasil Atual - Experts indicate that Brazilian education could lose R$ 25 billion annually if Senator José Serra's (PSDB-SP) bill, which alters the pre-salt oil exploration regime, is approved. Projecting over the next 15 years, the achievement of the goals of the National Education Plan (PNE) would be definitively prevented. This estimate comes from the National Campaign for the Right to Education.

Serra's proposal does not alter the destination or the value of royalties, but it could significantly reduce the revenue of the Social Fund, as it would remove Petrobras' exclusive right to explore all pre-salt fields. In other words, any other private company could assume this role, with the corresponding gains.

According to experts, now is the time to invest in education. "Our society is experiencing the last 'demographic bonus.' It's the final stage in our history where the majority of our population is young," warns Daniel Cara, coordinator of the National Campaign for the Right to Education.

According to Cleuza Repulho, former president of the National Union of Municipal Education Directors (Undime), "it is important to pay attention to this and not open (the exploration of the pre-salt layer) to other companies. Petrobras is going through a difficult time, but this will pass." She reaffirms that the pre-salt resources are important for achieving the 20 goals of the National Education Plan (PNE).

"We secured the pre-salt oil revenue based on targets agreed upon in the 5.570 municipalities, plus the 26 states. Changing the rules of the game and taking away these resources will prevent us from achieving the targets. Not achieving the targets means not getting all children into school, not having teachers in all classrooms, and not having the minimum adequate infrastructure to receive these children and young people," says Cleuza.