While students in Salvador protested against budget cuts at Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) on Monday morning, at the same time president Jair Bolsonaro (PSL), visiting a military high school in Rio de Janeiro, once again defended having a military high school in every capital.
Brazil has 14 military high schools, 11 in capital cities. “The military schools honor all the Brazilians, and emphasize quality basic education,” said the president, at the military high school in Rio de Janeiro.
Last week, the Ministry of Education announced a 30 percent cut in the federal money allocated to federal universities, due to an allocation of R$ 5.8 billions ( US$ 1.4 billion) in the ministry’s budget.
The cut will also affect basic education federal schools, like Pedro II high school in Rio de Janeiro, which neighbors a military high school. Pedro II students protested the presence of the president. Students in Salvador also protested against the blocking of R$36.3 million (US$ 9,7 million) in funds for UFBA.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon