"I'm obsessed with education," says Lula.
The president gave an emotional speech in which he recalled his career path and his personal relationship with education.
247 - During a ceremony at the Isabel Salgado Olympic Educational Gymnasium, in Rio de Janeiro, this Wednesday (15), President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva highlighted the importance of education as a priority of his government and announced the opening of the application system for the Brazilian National Teacher Card (CNDB). The event marked Teacher's Day and brought together authorities and professionals in the field.
Lula gave an emotional speech in which he recalled his trajectory and personal relationship with education, emphasizing that his activism for education stemmed from what he lacked. "I have a primary school education and a vocational training course. That's all I have in life. And my obsession with education is because I didn't have the things I think I should have had," he declared.
Advocating for equal opportunities.
The president emphasized that his fight for quality public education aims to ensure that the children of workers have the same opportunities as those from wealthy families. "I want the child of a simple domestic worker to be able to compete for a university place alongside the child of her employer, and for the one who has learned more, who has studied more, to win. I don't want to harm anyone, I just want to guarantee that everyone has the same opportunity," he stated.
Lula also criticized the idea that Brazilian society should accept historical inequalities. For him, only an organized people can change this reality. "The idea that we are second-class citizens has been created in this country. But only we can change that," he emphasized.
Political criticism and calls for participation.
In his speech, Lula took the opportunity to criticize previous governments and the stance of those elected in the name of fighting corruption, without concrete results. "Those of us who stayed in power did absolutely nothing, focused on corruption, and got elected. Elected in the name of what?" he questioned.
He also made a direct appeal to the audience: “When you think Lula is no good, that Eduardo Paes is no good, that the city councilor or the congressman is no good, that’s your right. But, for God’s sake, instead of voting for someone worse, be the candidates yourselves. You are the good people who can change this country.”
The president cited the work of the Minister of Education, Camilo Santana, whom he challenged to surpass Fernando Haddad, the former minister in the field. "Camilo is being an extraordinary minister. When he was governor, he had the best education of all 27 states. Today, 40% of the students entering ITA (Instituto Tecnológico de Aeronáutica) come from Ceará," he emphasized.
Education as an engine of development
Lula reiterated that education must be the foundation for Brazil to advance in the field of technology and innovation, ceasing to be merely an exporter of commodities. "This country cannot continue to be only an exporter of soybeans and corn. We have to export intelligence, knowledge, and technology. And that's what we learn in school," he stated.
A message to the future.
Approaching his 80th birthday, Lula concluded his speech on a personal and optimistic note, saying he still has the energy of a young man. “This 80-year-old here has the energy of a 30-year-old. Years go by, but when you have a cause, your mind remains sharp. And my cause is education,” he concluded, drawing applause from the audience.
