Brazilian Mother Prosecuted for Homeschooling

A Christian woman in Brazil is being prosecuted for choosing to homeschool her son.

On Wednesday, a Brazilian state court is set to hear the case of Regiane Cichelero – a mother who began homeschooling her son in 2020 when public schools closed due to COVID-19.

Cichelero continued to homeschool even after Brazilian schools, where attendance is mandatory, reopened in March 2021. She stated:  

I choose to homeschool my son because I believe this is what is best for him, and am committed to providing him with the best possible education.

Moreover, homeschooling ensures that I can impart our faith and values, which are so important to our family, to him on a daily basis — values that are consistently challenged and undermined in Brazil’s public school system.

Shortly after her decision, local authorities fined Cichelero over $20,000 USD. A judge also warned that she risked losing custody of her son if she failed to re-enroll him in public school.

Alliance Defending Freedom International (ADF) has taken up Cichelero’s case, and is challenging the state’s attempt to restrict parents’ decision-making freedoms on behalf of their children.

In 2018, Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court ruled that homeschooling is not unconstitutional, but specific legislation would be required to uphold the practice.

However, parents seeking to homeschool in Brazil are continuing to face legal challenges.

Julio Pohl, Legal Counsel for Latin America at ADF International, commented, “No parent should fear state punishment for choosing to homeschool their child.”

Pohl previously stated:

The fact that Regiane Cichelero has not only been prosecuted and fined, but also threatened with the removal of her child for choosing to homeschool is reprehensible.

Parents are the first authority for the education of their children, and this reaction from the local authorities is a complete violation of her rights as a parent guaranteed under international law.

Pohl and ADF International refer to various international laws, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 26.3 states, “Parents have a prior right to choose what kind of education that shall be given to their children.”

Additionally, Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights upholds parents’ freedom to choose schools for their children, “other than those established by public authorities,” that are “in conformity with their own convictions.”

“It is my role as a mother to provide the best education I can for my son,” said Cichelero, adding,

The state’s decision to penalize me has made it difficult to fulfill that duty.

But I look forward to this hearing, and I am hopeful for a decision that affirms the right of parents to direct their children’s education.

No parent in Brazil should fear the risk of fines or even of losing custody of their child simply for making the best choice for their family.

Over 70,000 children in Brazil are currently being homeschooled. Let us pray that the court upholds Brazilian parents’ rights to educate their children – not only according to their individual needs, but also in alignment with religious convictions.

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