Case #1571.0

Tackling Poor Performance, Extreme Inequality, Public Complaisance: Brazil's Education Minister Forges a New Role for the Ministry

Publication Date: March 01, 2000
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Abstract:
When Paulo Renato de Souza accepts an appointment to become Brazil's minister of education, he faces extreme challenges. Public education in Latin America's most populous nation is widely viewed as a failure. Brazil's vast population of poor children often attends schools that are both physically inadequate and have inadequate textbooks. His own department has seen a parade of ineffective leaders and has only indirect authority of state governments responsible for primary education.

Learning Objective:
This leadership case describes de Souza's early choices in his bid to improve schooling—including efforts to change the education financing mechanism through legislative action.

Other Details

Case Author:
Pamela Varley
Faculty Lead:
Merilee Grindle
Pages (incl. exhibits):
11
Setting:
South America, Brazil
Language:
English
Funding Source:
World Bank