On September 22nd the Brazilian president, Michel Temer, signed a provisional decree with proposals for changes in the ensino médio (secondary education), envisioning their implementation in early 2017.
The proposed changes can be summarized as follows:
- Increase of yearly academic hours from 800 to 1400.
- Restructuring of curriculum: Portuguese, Mathematics and English as mandatory subjects while Physical Education and Art Education no longer mandatory.
The announcement of the proposed changes resulted in a great deal of controversy. Specifically, the idea of dropping physical education as a mandatory subject. Politicians, educators, parents, and students called for further discussion on the issue.
Secondary education reform in Brazil has been under discussion since 2010.