Education Management and Social Responsibility
By André Pina – Superintendent Director
According to the text "Country Threatened" by Cristovam Buarque (Senator of the Republic by the PDT-DF and former minister of education), published in the newspaper Folha de São Paulo, in January 31st, 2008, "the country is threatened by the ‘invasion’ of a 72 million army of adults. They are the voters without basic education concluded. Because of this 'invasion', in 30 years we will be even more immersed in violence, corruption, low productivity, lack of ability to create capital/knowledge, economic and regional inequalities", Buarque completes.
It's impressive to show that there are 104 million voters with incomplete secondary education (58% of the population), from which 28.8 million are illiterate or knows only how to read (16% of the population) and 72 million (40% of the population) do not even concluded the basic education (that's right).
It is true that this illiteracy rate in Brazil has declined in recent years, but the rate is still extremely high compared to countries like Japan (0.2%), where education is mandatory and the law is strict, or United States and Germany (0.10%).
From a long time I also have commented on the low and successive investments in education in the municipalities that receive oil royalties in Campos Basin region (RJ). For purposes of making a picture, in 2005 an annual chart was published showing that the investments in education in the last 5 years were inversely proportional to the ones arising from the oil revenues, i.e. the higher the royalties revenue is, less the amount allocated for health and education is. Unbelievable!
If in times of world market crisis and strong global competitiveness, when a college degree is considered a basic requirement to the professional formation, what can we say about a population mass of almost 60% of our country who did not concluded the secondary education. How shall we face the challenges of this globalized world? What can we expect from our country productivity and growth? And on what basis this will happen?
It is essential that everyone understands that the development of a country is not only measured by GDP or other economic indicators such as inflation, interest rate and trade balance. The true development is social, which makes people obey the laws, comply with ethics and humanitarian rules, develop themselves, produce knowledge etc. This process is only possible through a large and ongoing investment in education.
To contribute, through concrete actions, to the improving of this picture and to the socio-cultural development of our country is everyone’s duty and one of the goals of PINAMAK. In addition to the already traditional program of social action "PINAMAK: EACH CONTRACT AN INSTITUTION" – which for more than 10 years has been supporting social organizations – we will launch in 2008 the project "PINAMAK EDUCATES", where, in partnership with education private companies, we will offer technical courses and computer courses in our branch at the city of Macaé/RJ.
Obviously this action is very little close to what still needs to be done. But these small actions are responsible for major changes and improvements in our companies, communities, neighborhoods and cities, indirectly impacting hundreds of people. That makes us very proud!
As an administration precept says: only the action makes changes, only the action transforms, only the Education can change and alter this sad picture and trend that each day is closer. Otherwise, we will be not just "invaded", as it was well quoted in the former minister’s column, but also "crushed" by the great trend of masses repressing minorities.
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