This paper seeks to analyze the main education financing measures adopted by the Fernando Henrique Cardoso's administration. Between 1995 and 2002, thanks to the center-right coalition that gave the government a majority in Congress, several new laws with strong impact on education financing were approved, such as the LDB (Brazilian Education Basic Tenets Law), FUNDEF (Fund for the Maintenance and Development of Elementary Education and Enhancement of the Teaching Profession), and the Brazilian Education Plan. This administration has always assumed that the existing funds are sufficient although their use should be optimized. In conclusion, the article states that this administration will be remembered as one that spent 4% of the GDP in education and 8% of the GDP in interests and service of the public debt.
Education financing; FUNDEF; Brazilian Education Plan; Fernando Henrique Cardoso's administration; Education quality
