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Cultural Characteristics of Latin America
The term “Latin America” refers to all countries in South America. Latin America also includes parts of Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean islands.
Latin America’s climate can be hot and humid or rainy, depending on the location and the season. Rainforests, deserts, and savanna are found throughout the region. The weather varies from area to area.
South of the equator, seasons are the opposite of ours. When the United States experiences summer, South American countries are in winter. Because of this, you might recognize another difference. In many South American countries like Brazil, the school year begins in early February. There is usually a two-week winter vacation in July. The second semester then begins and the school year ends after the holiday season, in January.
Brazil’s new constitution of 1988 included policies that support the country’s education system. Since then, the government’s Ministry of Education has been the force driving Brazil’s public school system.
Brazil’s constitution states that education is a right for all citizens. It explains that the goal of education is to fully develop students. This includes preparing them to be responsible citizens and future workers.
Brazil’s Education System
Education in Brazil has seen major improvements in recent years. It is one of the best systems in Latin America. However, in some poor areas, public schools still lack appropriate resources. In the poorest sections of Brazil, schoolrooms may not have air conditioning, forcing students to swelter in the heat. There is also a lack of books, computers, and teachers in these poorer areas. For the most part though, the quality of public education in Brazil is continually on the rise.
It is mandatory that all Brazilian children seven years of age and older attend school. Though this is the law, some families choose to keep children home, especially in rural areas where children often have to work to help support their families. The majority of children are attending school, though, even during their younger years. Children aged 3 to 5 can enter Educação Infantil, which is preschool. They are either enrolled in a daycare-type setting or an academic class, depending on what their families want.
Primary school begins around age 6 and continues to age 15. Students of various ages often sit next to each other in the same class. This is because children enter the school system at different ages. Many students are also often held back to repeat grades if they do not pass their year-end exams. For this and other reasons, many public schools in Brazil are overcrowded.
Some students may walk to school while others may take a bus or are driven by their parents. However they travel, their hours in the classroom may vary. When they arrive, they are often divided into different “sessions” during the day. Most students don’t attend school for an entire day. A student may attend a morning, afternoon, or evening school session. Each is usually broken up into a 5-hour period.
Portuguese is the official language of Brazil and is a major subject studied in primary school. History, geography, math, science, and physical education are also taught. Additionally, students may have foreign language classes such as English and Spanish. Many hope to continue their educations after they graduate. Some go on to pursue college degrees in other countries, like the United States, so learning English or Spanish in primary school is often necessary.
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