created in 1930, the Ministério da Educação - MEC, in English called the Ministry of Education, operates as a branch of the federal government, with various areas of competency, including the evaluation and research of information on education, national education policy, early childhood education, elementary, secondary, and higher education, as well as education in general, taking into account all stages of formal education, including special education, long-distance, military, and professional training.

Further, this branch of the government handles financial assistance for families in need of support for the education of dependent members.

The Secretary of Higher Education is the entity within the ministry responsible for the planning, orientation, coordination, and supervision of the formulation and implementation process of the national education policy in Brazil.