Yanomami indigenous land to get BRL 32 mi investment for education

The Yanomami Ye’kwana territory will be the first to receive support this year from the Ministry of Education through federal universities and institutes.

In all, BRL 32 million will be transferred to build schools and train teachers in the territory on an emergency basis.

The Federal University of Minas Gerais will be in charge of the construction works, while teacher training will be carried out by the Federal Institute of Roraima. A total of BRL 18 million will be earmarked for teacher training.

The initiatives for the education of the Yanomami and the Ye’kwana were discussed with indigenous leaders at a meeting on Tuesday (Aug. 21) with Education Minister Camilo Santana in Brasília.

The Yanomami are the Brazilian ethnic group with the lowest number of professionals trained in higher education—less than one percent have a degree at this level. The goal is to step up a program named Indigenous Knowledge, which aims to provide continuing education and the production of teaching materials for the Yanomami.

As part of the Indigenous Education Policy, the Education Ministry will resume the construction of 74 indigenous schools in various territories across Brazil, with an investment of BRL 195 million. There are also plans to create 113 new indigenous schools under the Growth Acceleration Program.

Under the National Basic Education Teacher Training Program, under Equity, the ministry has approved the creation of 39 indigenous intercultural degree courses, with 2,412 openings.