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After a negative repercussion, the Ministry of Education (MEC) suspended, on Thursday night (4), the letter it had issued in early February to “prevent and punish partisan political acts in federal public educational institutions.” New document, the folder goes back and affirms that there was no intention to “curb freedom of expression and expression” in higher education.
“We inform them of the cancellation of the letter (…), as it allows different interpretations of the message they intended,” says the MEC, in a circular sent to the rectors and signed by Wagner Vilas Boas de Souza, Secretary of Education.
According to the text, the government respects the university autonomy provided for in the Federal Constitution.
What did the letter say that is now suspended?
The letter, issued on February 7, requested that Federal educational institutions take measures to prevent and punish political demonstrations in their facilities.
The document cited as one of the arguments the 2019 decision of the Chief Prosecutor of the Republic in Goiás, Ailton Benedito de Souza. At that time, he stated that political acts contrary to or in favor of the government represented disrespect for the “principle of impersonality”.
According to Souza, Punishment, therefore, for comments or demonstrations that occur in public service spaces. (like federal universities). And it would be necessary, in his opinion, to create channels for reporting the activities of political parties It happened in educational institutions.
What was the impact of the trade?
Entities linked to higher education stated that the MEC was Curb freedom of expression and the right of teachers and students to fight for their rights.
In a note, the National Union of Teachers of Higher Education Institutions (Andes) declared that the ministry’s recommendation was a “attack on the freedoms provided for in our Constitution.”
In response, the MEC had stated that the intention was “to guide federal universities towards the need to regulate and establish minimum compliance standards for the allocation and use of public spaces and assets.”
What did the MEC claim to suspend the office itself?
By suspending the letter issued by the portfolio itself, the MEC states that its initial intention was only “to provide information to universities on the possibility and convenience of regulating” the use of their spaces.
The goal, according to the ministry, was guide universities to “ensure the proper use of public resources”, without losing the guarantee of the rights of manifestation.
The document also says that the Department of Higher Education maintains a constant dialogue with the institutions of the federal network.
Has the STF already expressed its opinion on this?
In May 2020, the Federal Supreme Court (STF) unanimously decided that they are unconstitutional:
- acts that violate the freedom of expression of students and teachers;
- and attempts to prevent the spread of ideologies or thoughts within universities.
According to the MEC’s citation to the prosecutor’s text, the comment or political act that occurred “in the physical space where public services operate, as well as when official websites, communication networks and other institutional means are used to promote acts, would be punishable. of this nature. ”
According to the MEC’s citation to the prosecutor’s text, the comment or political act that occurs “in the physical space where public services operate, as well as when official websites, communication networks and other institutional means are used to promote acts of this nature “.
