Education is a central priority for the State of Santa Catarina. Its policy makers are firmly committed to provide a relevant and efficient education system that responds to the requirements of the global economy and will allow the state to be competitive, both nationally and internationally .

This OECD review gives a brief overview of education in Santa Catarina and its development. It presents an analysis of the system from pre-school to tertiary education and lifelong learning, and identifies key directions for policy reform in light of the challenges encountered by officials, communities, enterprises, educators, parents and students. It concludes with a set of key recommendations concerning the structure of the system and its labour market relevance; access and equity; governance and management; research, development and innovation; internationalisation; and financing.

Acronyms
Executive Summary
Chapter 1. Introduction
-Santa Catarina: the general context
-Overview of the education system
-The review process and themes examined
Chapter 2. The Financing of Public Schooling
-Introduction and background
-The education finance system in Santa Catarina
-Challenges and recommendations
Chapter 3. Governance: System and Quality Management
-Management of the educational system and schools
-Recommendations
Chapter 4. Access and Equity including Special Education Provision
-Improving access for disadvantaged children
-Gender access and equity
-Gender equity in Santa Catarina’s education system
-Ethnicity and inclusive education in Brazil
-Indigenous students
-Ethnicity and education in Santa Catarina
-Child poverty and education in Brazil
-Child poverty and education in Santa Catarina
-Special needs education in Brazil
-Legal framework: inclusive education
-Finance
-Enrolment statistics for SEN/CWD
-Changes in definition?
-Inclusion in mainstream schooling (Brazil)
-Special education in Santa Catarina
-Issues in education of children with special educational needs and those with disabilities
-Recommendations
Chapter 5. Curriculum and Textbooks in Pre-school, Basic and Secondary Education
-Introduction: notes on the general education system
-Early childhood education (Educaçæ#163;o infantil)
-Fundamental and secondary education
-The curriculum in Brazil
-The curriculum in Santa Catarina
-Fundamental (primary) school grades 1-4 (“Years 1-5”)
-Fundamental (upper primary) school grades 5-8 (“Years 6-9”)
-Secondary school (ensino médio) years 1-3
-Issues in the curriculum
-Recommendations related to curriculum
-Textbooks and learning materials
-Issues in textbooks and materials
-Recommendations related to textbooks and learning materials
Chapter 6. Student Assessment
-Assessment of student learning in Brazil and Santa Catarina
-School-based assessment and testing
-Index of Basic Education Development (IDEB)
-National Basic Education Assessment (SAEB)
-Prova Brasil and SAEB: how do they relate?
-Provinha Brasil (“Little Prova Brazil”)
-National Examination for Certification of Youth and Adult Competencies (ENCCEJA)
-University entrance examinations
-Towards a unified, national university entrance exam?
-Higher education: equity and access issues
-Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)
-Santa Catarina’s PISA 2006 results
-Issues related to assessment of student learning
-Recommendations related to assessment
Chapter 7. Professional and Technological Education
-Notes and terminology
-Introduction
-Legal and policy basis
-Struggle and peace
-Recent policies and programmes
-Dynamics
-Notes and issues
-Recommendations
Chapter 8. The Teaching Career and Teacher Education
-Teachers within the policy context
-Current profile of the teaching career
-Career structure and salary framework
-Conditions of employment
-Principal teachers (school leaders)
-Teacher education
-Educational research
-Recommendations
Chapter 9. Higher Education
-Introduction and background
-The higher education system in Santa Catarina
-Governance and management
-Access to higher education in Santa Catarina
-Funding
-Quality
-Labour market linkages and relevance
-Internationalisation
-R&D and Innovation
-Challenges and recommendations
Chapter 10. Research, Development and Innovation
The key economic sectors in Santa Catarina
-Recent historical perspective on RDI in Brazil and Santa Catarina
-Funding of research, development and innovation
-The RDI capacity of Brazilian universities
-Reform of applied science and engineering education in Santa Catarina
-Relevant RDI issues in Brazilian research universities
-RDI programmes in Santa Catarina
-Science and technology networks
-Scientific research and development programmes
-Sectoral and regional RDI programmes
-Industrial development programmes
-Analysis of the constraints and proposed reforms of the RDI system in Santa Catarina
Chapter 11. Towards Strategic Reform Measures
-Purpose and context of the review
-The financing of public schooling
-Governance: system and quality management
-Access and equity including special education provision
-Curriculum and textbooks in pre-school, basic and secondary education
-Student assessment
-Professional and technological education
-The teaching career and teacher education
-Higher education
-Research, development and innovation