Leite coordinates meeting on public-private partnership in schools in Rio Grande do Sul

Governor Eduardo Leite coordinated, this Thursday morning (11/9), a meeting to debate the premises of the public-private partnership (PPP) project in education. The initiative will seek a private partner to improve the infrastructure of 100 schools in Rio Grande do Sul.

The PPP will benefit 60,568 students from Alvorada, Bento Gonçalves, Cachoeirinha, Canoas, Caxias do Sul, Cruz Alta, Gravataí, Novo Hamburgo, Pelotas, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande, Santa Maria, São Leopoldo, Sapucaia do Sul and Viamão, municipalities that make up the RS Seguro program. The objective of the project is to transform the social reality of children, young people and adults in the most vulnerable areas of Rio Grande do Sul.

“We have to rethink our schools, starting with the existing physical structures. Go beyond basic service. Offer more attractive and interesting spaces, which are references for communities. The private partner will be important to keep these environments in good condition”, said the governor.

The 100 educational institutions were selected based on data that identified areas of greatest social vulnerability. From now on, other premises will be discussed in working meetings with technicians from the Partnerships and Concessions (Separ) and Education (Seduc) secretariats and with SP Parcerias, which is responsible for structuring the PPP.

“The pedagogical part does not change in these schools. The public-private partnership will focus on improving infrastructure. We will define the necessary works and items that the PPP will offer in these educational institutions. We will determine whether we will have to build new sports, culture and leisure spaces, as well as what technology equipment will be acquired, among other points”, highlighted the head of Separ, Pedro Capeluppi.

The total value of the investment will be defined based on technical visits and diagnosis of the school structure. Another point that will be indicated according to the studies carried out in the structuring is the period in which the private partner will operate in the 100 educational institutions. In other similar PPPs already carried out for education, such as in Belo Horizonte, the concession period was 20 years.

“We have complete confidence in the project. Today, school directors waste a lot of time having to deal with bureaucratic issues regarding infrastructure works. In these 100 schools, this will be the responsibility of the private partner and the director will be able to dedicate more time to pedagogical support”, stated the head of Seduc, Raquel Teixeira.

How it will work

The private partner will be responsible for requalifying the schools’ infrastructure and providing support services that will not interfere with pedagogical activities. These services include, for example, building conservation and maintenance, connectivity, janitorial care, hygiene and cleaning, security and surveillance, gardening, pest control, provision of utilities, solid waste management and provision of furniture and equipment. There is no provision for any pedagogical intervention in educational institutions.

The structuring of the project, in conjunction with Separ, is the responsibility of the company SP Parcerias, responsible for similar projects in municipalities such as São Paulo and Porto Alegre.

Timeline

The structuring phase of the Education PPP will also involve holding public hearings and consultations. With all stages of listening to the population carried out, the government plans to publish the notice for the second half of 2024.

After this, the bidding will take place, projected for the first half of 2025, when the private partner will be defined to perform the services provided for in the contract. Work on the schools should begin in 2025.

_{Text: Lucas Barroso/Ascom Separ
Editing: Camila Cargnelutti/Secom}