# Ministry of Education (Brazil)

The Ministry of Education (Portuguese: Ministério da Educação), commonly known as MEC, originates from its previous name, the Ministry of Education and Culture (Portuguese: Ministério da Educação e Cultura), is a cabinet-level federal ministry of Brazil.
Its responsibilities include coordinating national education policies and managing daily affairs, covering from early childhood education to post-graduate levels.

## History of the institution

Before 1930, matters related to education were the responsibility of the National Department of Education (Portuguese: Departamento Nacional do Ensino), which was part of the Ministry of Justice at the time.
In 1930, as Getúlio Vargas took office as president, the Ministry of Education and Public Health (Portuguese: Ministério da Educação e Saúde Pública) was established, taking away education matters from the Ministry of Justice.
In 1953, the ministry was split into two: the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Education and Culture (Portuguese: Ministério da Educação e Cultura, with the acronym MEC, which lasts to this day).
In 1985, during José Sarney's presidency, it was again split into two: the Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Education.
In 1992, as Itamar Franco took office as president, sports were made part of the ministry again, which was subsequently renamed Ministry of Education and Sports (Portuguese: Ministério da Educação e do Desporto).
In 1995, during Fernando Henrique Cardoso's presidency, that was once again changed, separating the Ministry of Education from the then Ministry of Sports.
The incumbent Education Minister is senator Camilo Santana.

## List of ministers

| No. | Minister | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Party | President |
| 1 | Francisco Campos (1891–1968) | 6 December 1930 (1930-12-06) | 31 August 1931 (1931-08-31) | 268 days | Independent | Getúlio Vargas (Ind) |
| – | Belisário Penna (1868–1939) Acting | 31 August 1931 (1931-08-31) | 1 December 1931 (1931-12-01) | 92 days | Independent | Getúlio Vargas (Ind) |
| 2 | Francisco Campos (1891–1968) | 1 December 1931 (1931-12-01) | 15 September 1932 (1932-09-15) | 289 days | Independent | Getúlio Vargas (Ind) |
| 3 | Washington Pires (1892–1970) | 15 September 1932 (1932-09-15) | 23 July 1934 (1934-07-23) | 1 year, 311 days | Independent | Getúlio Vargas (Ind) |
| 4 | Gustavo Capanema (1900–1985) | 23 July 1934 (1934-07-23) | 30 October 1945 (1945-10-30) | 11 years, 99 days | Independent | Getúlio Vargas (Ind) |
| 5 | Raul Leitão da Cunha (1881–1947) | 30 October 1945 (1945-10-30) | 31 January 1946 (1946-01-31) | 93 days | Independent | José Linhares (Ind) |
| 6 | Ernesto de Sousa Campos (1882–1970) | 31 January 1946 (1946-01-31) | 6 December 1946 (1946-12-06) | 309 days | Independent | Eurico Gaspar Dutra (PSD) |
| 7 | Clemente Mariani (1900–1981) | 6 December 1946 (1946-12-06) | 15 May 1950 (1950-05-15) | 3 years, 160 days | Independent | Eurico Gaspar Dutra (PSD) |
| – | Eduardo Rios Filho Acting | 15 May 1950 (1950-05-15) | 4 August 1950 (1950-08-04) | 81 days | Independent | Eurico Gaspar Dutra (PSD) |
| 8 | Pedro Calmon (1902–1985) | 4 August 1950 (1950-08-04) | 31 January 1951 (1951-01-31) | 180 days | PSD | Eurico Gaspar Dutra (PSD) |
| 9 | Ernesto Simões Filho (1886–1957) | 31 January 1951 (1951-01-31) | 25 May 1953 (1953-05-25) | 2 years, 114 days | Independent | Getúlio Vargas (PTB) |
| – | Péricles Madureira de Pinho (1908–1978) Acting | 25 May 1953 (1953-05-25) | 24 June 1953 (1953-06-24) | 30 days | Independent | Getúlio Vargas (PTB) |
| 10 | Antônio Balbino (1912–1992) | 24 June 1953 (1953-06-24) | 2 July 1954 (1954-07-02) | 1 year, 8 days | PSD | Getúlio Vargas (PTB) |
| 11 | Edgard Santos (1894–1962) | 6 July 1954 (1954-07-06) | 2 September 1954 (1954-09-02) | 58 days | Independent | Getúlio Vargas (PTB) Café Filho (PSP) |
| 12 | Cândido Mota Filho (1897–1977) | 2 September 1954 (1954-09-02) | 17 November 1955 (1955-11-17) | 1 year, 76 days | Independent | Café Filho (PSP) |
| 13 | Abgar Renault (1901–1995) | 24 November 1955 (1955-11-24) | 31 January 1956 (1956-01-31) | 68 days | Independent | Nereu Ramos (PSD) |
| 14 | Clóvis Salgado (1906–1978) | 31 January 1956 (1956-01-31) | 30 April 1956 (1956-04-30) | 90 days | PR | Juscelino Kubitschek (PSD) |
| – | Celso Brant (1920–2004) Acting | 30 April 1956 (1956-04-30) | 3 October 1956 (1956-10-03) | 156 days | PR | Juscelino Kubitschek (PSD) |
| – | Nereu Ramos (1888–1958) Acting | 3 October 1956 (1956-10-03) | 4 November 1956 (1956-11-04) | 32 days | PSD | Juscelino Kubitschek (PSD) |
| 15 | Clóvis Salgado (1906–1978) | 4 November 1956 (1956-11-04) | 18 June 1959 (1959-06-18) | 2 years, 226 days | PR | Juscelino Kubitschek (PSD) |
| 16 | Pedro Calmon (1902–1985) | 18 June 1959 (1959-06-18) | 16 June 1960 (1960-06-16) | 364 days | PSD | Juscelino Kubitschek (PSD) |
| – | José Pedro Ferreira da Costa (1900–1971) Acting | 17 June 1960 (1960-06-17) | 24 June 1960 (1960-06-24) | 7 days | Independent | Juscelino Kubitschek (PSD) |
| 17 | Pedro Paulo Penido (1904–1967) | 1 July 1960 (1960-07-01) | 17 October 1960 (1960-10-17) | 108 days | Independent | Juscelino Kubitschek (PSD) |
| 18 | Clóvis Salgado (1906–1978) | 18 October 1960 (1960-10-18) | 31 January 1961 (1961-01-31) | 105 days | PR | Juscelino Kubitschek (PSD) |
| 19 | Brígido Fernandes Tinoco (1910–1982) | 31 January 1961 (1961-01-31) | 25 August 1961 (1961-08-25) | 206 days | PSD | Jânio Quadros (PTN) |
| No. | Minister | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Party | Prime Minister |
| 20 | Antônio Ferreira de Oliveira Brito (1908–1997) | 8 September 1961 (1961-09-08) | 12 July 1962 (1962-07-12) | 307 days | PSD | Tancredo Neves (PSD) |
| 21 | Roberto Lira (1902–1982) | 12 July 1962 (1962-07-12) | 14 September 1962 (1962-09-14) | 64 days | Independent | Brochado da Rocha (PSD) |
| 22 | Darcy Ribeiro (1922–1997) | 14 September 1962 (1962-09-14) | 24 January 1963 (1963-01-24) | 132 days | PCB | Hermes Lima (PTB) |
| No. | Minister | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Party | President |
| 23 | Teotônio Monteiro de Barros (1901–1974) | 24 January 1963 (1963-01-24) | 18 June 1963 (1963-06-18) | 145 days | Independent | João Goulart (PTB) |
| 24 | Paulo de Tarso Santos (1926–2019) | 18 June 1963 (1963-06-18) | 21 October 1963 (1963-10-21) | 125 days | PDC | João Goulart (PTB) |
| – | Júlio Furquim Sambaqui (1906–1982) Acting | 21 October 1963 (1963-10-21) | 6 April 1964 (1964-04-06) | 168 days | Independent | João Goulart (PTB) |
| 25 | Luís Antônio da Gama e Silva (1913–1979) | 6 April 1964 (1964-04-06) | 15 April 1964 (1964-04-15) | 9 days | UDN | Ranieri Mazzilli (PSD) |
| 26 | Flávio Suplicy de Lacerda (1903–1983) | 15 April 1964 (1964-04-15) | 10 January 1966 (1966-01-10) | 1 year, 270 days | Independent | Castelo Branco (ARENA) |
| 27 | Pedro Aleixo (1901–1975) | 10 January 1966 (1966-01-10) | 30 June 1966 (1966-06-30) | 171 days | ARENA | Castelo Branco (ARENA) |
| 28 | Raymyndio Moniz de Aragão (1912–2001) | 30 June 1966 (1966-06-30) | 4 October 1966 (1966-10-04) | 0 days | Independent | Castelo Branco (ARENA) |
| – | Guilherme Canedo de Magalhães Acting | 4 October 1966 (1966-10-04) | 15 March 1967 (1967-03-15) | 162 days | Independent | Castelo Branco (ARENA) |
| 29 | Tarso Dutra (1914–1983) | 15 March 1967 (1967-03-15) | 30 October 1969 (1969-10-30) | 0 days | ARENA | Costa e Silva (ARENA) Military Junta of 1969 (Military junta) |
| 30 | Jarbas Passarinho (1920–2016) | 3 November 1969 (1969-11-03) | 15 March 1974 (1974-03-15) | 4 years, 132 days | ARENA | Emílio Garrastazu Médici (ARENA) |
| 31 | Ney Braga (1917–2000) | 15 March 1974 (1974-03-15) | 30 May 1978 (1978-05-30) | 4 years, 76 days | ARENA | Ernesto Geisel (ARENA) |
| 32 | Euro Brandão (1924–2000) | 30 May 1978 (1978-05-30) | 15 March 1979 (1979-03-15) | 289 days | Independent | Ernesto Geisel (ARENA) |
| 33 | Eduardo Portella (1932–2017) | 15 March 1979 (1979-03-15) | 26 November 1980 (1980-11-26) | 0 days | Independent | João Figueiredo (ARENA) |
| 34 | Rubem Carlos Ludwig (1926–1989) | 26 November 1980 (1980-11-26) | 24 August 1982 (1982-08-24) | 1 year, 271 days | Independent | João Figueiredo (PDS) |
| 35 | Esther Figueiredo Ferraz (1915–2008) | 24 August 1982 (1982-08-24) | 15 March 1985 (1985-03-15) | 2 years, 203 days | Independent | João Figueiredo (PDS) |
| 36 | Marco Maciel (1940–2021) | 15 March 1985 (1985-03-15) | 14 February 1986 (1986-02-14) | 336 days | PFL | José Sarney (MDB) |
| 37 | Jorge Bornhausen (born 1937) | 14 February 1986 (1986-02-14) | 5 October 1987 (1987-10-05) | 1 year, 233 days | PFL | José Sarney (MDB) |
| – | Aloísio Guimarães Sotero Acting | 6 October 1987 (1987-10-06) | 30 October 1987 (1987-10-30) | 24 days | Independent | José Sarney (MDB) |
| 38 | Hugo Napoleão (born 1943) | 30 October 1987 (1987-10-30) | 16 January 1989 (1989-01-16) | 1 year, 78 days | PFL | José Sarney (MDB) |
| 39 | Carlos Corrêa Sant'anna (1931–2003) | 16 January 1989 (1989-01-16) | 15 March 1990 (1990-03-15) | 1 year, 58 days | MDB | José Sarney (MDB) |
| 40 | Carlos Chiarelli (born 1940) | 15 March 1990 (1990-03-15) | 21 August 1991 (1991-08-21) | 1 year, 159 days | PFL | Fernando Collor (PRN) |
| 41 | José Goldemberg (born 1928) | 21 August 1991 (1991-08-21) | 4 August 1992 (1992-08-04) | 349 days | Independent | Fernando Collor (PRN) |
| 42 | Eraldo Tinoco (1943–2008) | 4 August 1992 (1992-08-04) | 1 October 1992 (1992-10-01) | 58 days | PFL | Fernando Collor (PRN) |
| 43 | Murílio de Avellar Hingel (1933–2023) | 1 October 1992 (1992-10-01) | 1 January 1995 (1995-01-01) | 2 years, 92 days | Independent | Itamar Franco (MDB) |
| 44 | Paulo Renato Souza (1945–2011) | 1 January 1995 (1995-01-01) | 1 January 2003 (2003-01-01) | 8 years, 0 days | PSDB | Fernando Henrique Cardoso (PSDB) |
| 45 | Cristovam Buarque (born 1944) | 1 January 2003 (2003-01-01) | 27 January 2004 (2004-01-27) | 1 year, 26 days | PT | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) |
| 46 | Tarso Genro (born 1947) | 27 January 2004 (2004-01-27) | 29 July 2005 (2005-07-29) | 1 year, 183 days | PT | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) |
| 47 | Fernando Haddad (born 1963) | 29 July 2005 (2005-07-29) | 23 January 2012 (2012-01-23) | 6 years, 178 days | PT | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) Dilma Rousseff (PT) |
| 48 | Aloizio Mercadante (born 1954) | 24 January 2012 (2012-01-24) | 2 February 2014 (2014-02-02) | 2 years, 9 days | PT | Dilma Rousseff (PT) |
| 49 | José Henrique Paim (born 1966) | 2 February 2014 (2014-02-02) | 1 January 2015 (2015-01-01) | 333 days | PT | Dilma Rousseff (PT) |
| 50 | Cid Gomes (born 1963) | 1 January 2015 (2015-01-01) | 18 March 2015 (2015-03-18) | 76 days | PDT | Dilma Rousseff (PT) |
| – | Luiz Cláudio Costa Acting | 18 March 2015 (2015-03-18) | 6 April 2015 (2015-04-06) | 19 days | Independent | Dilma Rousseff (PT) |
| 51 | Renato Janine Ribeiro (born 1949) | 6 April 2015 (2015-04-06) | 2 October 2015 (2015-10-02) | 179 days | Independent | Dilma Rousseff (PT) |
| 52 | Aloizio Mercadante (born 1954) | 2 October 2015 (2015-10-02) | 12 May 2016 (2016-05-12) | 223 days | PT | Dilma Rousseff (PT) |
| 53 | Mendonça Filho (born 1966) | 12 May 2016 (2016-05-12) | 6 April 2018 (2018-04-06) | 1 year, 329 days | DEM | Michel Temer (MDB) |
| 54 | Rossieli Soares (born 1978) | 6 April 2018 (2018-04-06) | 1 January 2019 (2019-01-01) | 270 days | Independent | Michel Temer (MDB) |
| 55 | Ricardo Vélez Rodríguez (born 1943) | 1 January 2019 (2019-01-01) | 8 April 2019 (2019-04-08) | 97 days | Independent | Jair Bolsonaro (PSL) |
| 56 | Abraham Weintraub (born 1971) | 8 April 2019 (2019-04-08) | 20 June 2020 (2020-06-20) | 1 year, 73 days | Independent | Jair Bolsonaro (PSL) |
| – | Vacant Acting | 20 June 2020 (2020-06-20) | 16 July 2020 (2020-07-16) | 26 days | Vacant | Jair Bolsonaro (Ind) |
| 57 | Milton Ribeiro (born 1958) | 16 July 2020 (2020-07-16) | 28 March 2022 (2022-03-28) | 1 year, 255 days | Independent | Jair Bolsonaro (Ind) |
| 58 | Victor Godoy Veiga (born 1981) | 28 March 2022 (2022-03-28) | 1 January 2023 (2023-01-01) | 279 days | Independent | Jair Bolsonaro (PL) |
| 59 | Camilo Santana (born 1968) | 1 January 2023 (2023-01-01) | Incumbent | 2 years, 6 days | PT | Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) |