The Minister of Education, Victor Godoy, said this Wednesday (11) that he did not participate in the agendas of the portfolio with evangelical pastors Gilmar Santos and Arilton Moura, in which the religious are accused of having collected bribes from mayors in exchange for making demands possible. of the municipalities next to the folder.
In a public hearing in the Education and Inspection and Control commissions of the Chamber of Deputies, Godoy highlighted that the only times he participated in events with the presence of pastors was at the invitation of former Minister of Education Milton Ribeiro, to compose the table of opening.
“All three events in which I participated in this capacity were held in the auditorium of the Ministry of Education. I did not participate in any of the other six events held in the presence of these pastors. He did not participate in the agendas with the aforementioned pastors. And the matters, perhaps, dealt with by them and the former Minister of Education, were not known to me”, he added.
In his initial exposure to the deputies, Victor Godoy also defended his predecessor, who left the folder in March, after the allegations were published by the press. “I want to testify here that the former Minister of Education [Milton Ribeiro], during 1 year and 8 months that he worked with me, he never requested or imposed that I perform any act in disagreement with the legislation of the country. I always maintained a relationship of cordiality and respect with the former minister,” he said.
Regarding how the ministry dealt with the complaints, the minister, who is a career server at the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) and audited several bodies of the folder for 4 years, before going to the MEC, said that as soon as he became aware of the complaints suggested to Milton Ribeiro actions to be investigated by the CGU.
“I personally reduced the reports declared to me to term and forwarded them, with the authorization of the then minister, to the CGU for investigation. Even though there was no material evidence, I decided that the path of prudence was the best way to go,” he said.
Confirmed as minister of the portfolio at the end of MarchVictor Godoy also clarified that as soon as he left the executive secretary to act as interim Minister of Education, he determined the collection of information regarding the complaints and forwarded results to the CGU to assist in the investigative work.
“The President of the Republic, when appointing me to assume the portfolio as Minister of Education, determined that all necessary investigative measures be adopted and that, if any irregularity is identified, the necessary measures are taken. I took steps to guide the FNDE to preventively suspend transfers under investigation,” he added.
The minister highlighted that he collaborates with all investigations by the control bodies and has worked to strengthen the FNDE’s integrity mechanisms. Despite this, he recalled that the federal autarchy enjoys administrative, budgetary and financial autonomy, “not answering to the Minister of Education for its acts”.
To the deputies, the Minister of Education also pointed out that he has always been guided by the fight against any illicit practice. “I reinforce my commitment, before the whole of Brazilian society, to collaborate with the investigations so that all suspicions are clarified. During my tenure at the head of the MEC, I will not be lenient with any irregularity and I will act with correctness and integrity, non-negotiable values that I carry with me in my public life,” he said.
robotic kits
Officially, the request of the public hearing was for the minister to talk about proposals and priorities for the portfolio and the allocation of resources for the purchase of robotics kits. In the case of municipalities in Alagoas, the complaints indicate that the material would be destined for schools that did not have basic infrastructure such as water and internet access. In this case, the material would have been purchased for R$ 26 million, based on parliamentary amendments.
In the face of the allegations, the purchase was suspended by the Federal Audit Court (TCU).
“These are pedagogical materials that provide students with the opportunity to study fundamental subjects for the future of the country. If I, as a minister, have to wait for the schools to be in perfect conditions to send them quality materials to be worked on in the classroom, I will be depriving those students who, in addition to not having more adequate conditions as they should have, will also not have the materials of the same quality”, he justified.
