Education is usually considered an essential part of social life. Yet, all over the world many countries, if not all, still face challenges in making education better.
Not surprinsingly, UNESCO took the lead in promoting education all over the world with the intent of bridging the gap among countries in relation to the quality and access to education. Governments followed suit. This is the case for example in Brazil where several actions for improving and expanding education in all levels have been taken in recent years.
A specially interesting aspect of Brazil's educational policies, however, is its emphasis in higher education. All over the country, the number of private and public colleges and universities has increased surprisingly. Government funds for public and private education - in the form of scholarships - is now part of the budget. This does not mean that other levels of education are not being assisted or improving. However, this picture has created a critical situation.
First of all, although higher education is important for technological, social and economical development, the emphasis on higher education is not just an issue of putting the country in the right track of increasement. There is a cultural side in it all. For many Brazilians, the chance of going to college is a matter of making a dream come true and gaining social status. Therefore, the now easy access to higher studies before an increase of quality for other levels of education has resulted in difficulties in academic survival and in a less qualified education.
Granted, such access to education has many positive counterparts. But the challenge for education in Brazil is not just related to elementary or secondary levels. In fact, to a great extent, it is students and lecturers who mostly cope with this situation, since the improvements in budget offers do not fit the needs of teaching, specially in private institutions where teaching, research and college structure do not always go hand in hand.
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