Ministry Of Education Recognizes Mistake In Asking Schools To Film Students Singing National Anthem

Minister Vélez said that the letter is "no longer in circulation" and refuse to give further explanations

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Daniel Carvalho Paulo Saldaña
Brasília

​​Education minister Ricardo Vélez Rodríguez acknowledged on Tuesday (26th) having made a mistake when he asked schools to film students singing the national anthem without parent consent, in a message that ends with the Bolsonaro campaign slogan "Brazil above everything. God above all!" A new version of the request will be sent out today.

"I saw the error. I took out the sentence corresponding to filming children without their parents' consent. If something is published, it will be according to the law, with their parents' authorization," said Vélez to journalists after leaving a courtesy visit to the head of Senate Davi Alcolumbre (DEM-AP).

O ministro da educação, Ricardo Vélez Rodríguez
O ministro da educação, Ricardo Vélez Rodríguez - Pedro Ladeira/Folhapress

​The Ministry of Education issued a press release saying that all schools will receive an updated letter from the minister, without the orientation for students to repeat the campaign slogan, but reinforcing the filming request and that the act should happen in the first day of the school year.

The minister said that the letter "was out of circulation" when pressed for more details and surrounded by security guards and aides, didn't reply to any other questions from reporters. 

Translated by NATASHA MADOV
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