The state will gain seven Comprehensive Education Centers.

Maranhao 247 - The governor of Maranhão, Flávio Dino, signed, this Thursday (12), service orders for the construction of seven Integrated Education Centers, which will cover the municipalities of Santa Inês, Vargem Grande, Codó, Viana, Açailândia, Zé Doca and Santa Luzia. With an investment of R$ 5,5 million in each unit, the construction of these centers will benefit approximately 25 thousand students from the State Public Network and municipal networks.

The Comprehensive Education Centers are part of a transitional model between regular education and full-time schooling, and will be built to serve students from various schools in the targeted regions, who will be able to participate in activities outside of regular school hours. The centers will be specifically designed to develop activities that complement the regular school curriculum, where students can participate in various artistic, sporting, laboratory, and academic support activities, among others.

According to Governor Flávio Dino, Maranhão already has a strategy underway to meet the goal of the National Education Plan, which aims to reach 30% of students in full-time schools. To this end, the State Government already has three units of the Institute of Education, Science and Technology (Iema), another four will begin operating in 2017, in addition to 11 more full-time schools (Educa Mais) that will also start operating this year.

With the construction of seven more Comprehensive Education Centers, Maranhão will go from zero to 30 full-time education units in 2018. "So these are the three strategies we have as complementary, so that we can reach the same objective. We have a goal set by law. This requires a continuous effort. Maranhão is on the right track," emphasized the governor.

The Secretary of Education, Felipe Camarão, gave a presentation on how the Centers function and said that this policy was established by decree on the day Governor Flávio Dino took office in January 2015. He explained that there are currently two Centers under construction – in Pinheiro and Barra do Corda – and "the intention is that we can spread them geographically to serve the largest number of municipalities possible. These are hub cities chosen from various regions of the state."

The Secretary of Infrastructure, Clayton Noleto, clarified that the physical characteristics of the Comprehensive Education Centers are combined with the pedagogical project to meet the needs from the point of view of educational infrastructure, which is a fundamental part of the process of improving the quality of education. "The division of the building's space aims to allow activities to be developed in a coordinated, synergistic, and harmonious way, creating an environment that is conducive to the development of educational activities," he emphasized.

Partnership with municipalities

The signing ceremony for the service orders for the construction of the Comprehensive Education Centers was attended by the mayors of the cities that will receive the units. For Carlinhos Barros, mayor of Vargem Grande, these spaces will be fundamental to improving the education indicators of the municipalities. "Education is the first step towards modernity. I am very happy to receive one of these Centers," he emphasized.

Flávio Dino explained that these Centers are means for developing the greater objective, which is the quality of education, measured primarily by indicators such as the IDEB (Basic Education Development Index). "We have a great challenge, which to succeed can only be achieved through collaboration with the municipalities. We will not be able to improve the IDEB of the state network without the municipal network. That is why we want to further strengthen ties with the municipalities. Because only in this way will we have sustainable growth in the IDEB in Maranhão," the governor emphasized.

Economic dimension

Beyond the public policy aspect, the investment of nearly R$ 40 million for the construction of these seven centers also has an economic dimension. Amidst a severe national economic crisis affecting the construction industry, the State Government is accelerating public investments to maintain a minimum level of private activity, sufficient for the resumption of the economic development cycle that Brazil needs.

"I wanted to highlight the fact that these service orders represent approximately R$ 40 million in works with various companies, because this signifies the democratization of opportunities. May they fulfill the contract with determination and dedication to the cause. Beyond the cold letter of the law, I emphasize the importance of the commitment not only to execute contractual obligations, but also to improve the education of all the people of Maranhão," concluded Governor Flávio Dino.

*With advisory information