Getulio Vargas Foundation studies the initiative with the objective of analyzing the possibility of replication in other regions of the country
The city of Pilar, in Alagoas, has been highlighted nationally for its bilingual teaching model in the public network, based on the Systemic Bilingual methodology. Implemented two years ago, the program is a pioneer in Brazil and was created by two northeastern entrepreneurs. The success of the experience caught the attention of the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), which studies the initiative with the objective of analyzing the possibility of replication in other regions of the country, including major centers such as Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
The research is coordinated by FGV teacher and researcher Gabriela Lotta, and seeks to understand how the pillar experience can be adapted to other contexts. “We are doing an analysis of the implementation. The simple fact that a small municipality adopts a bilingual model with the support of a school of excellence is already a relevant innovation. Our goal is to understand how this experience can work in other cities and generate positive results,” says Lotta.
The study is qualitative and includes documentary analysis and interviews with professionals involved in public policies. Research starts from existing evidence on the positive impacts of bilingual education on children’s cognitive and emotional development. In addition, it evaluates how the model can strengthen local capabilities and adapt educational policies to regional realities.
How the methodology works
The Systemic Bilingual methodology foresees 15 hours of full -time classes, divided into two stages: in one part of the day, students have the curriculum subjects in Portuguese; In the other, they perform similar activities in English. The goal is to promote the learning of a second language in an integrated way to school content.
According to Vanessa Tenório, founder and CEO of Systemic Bilingual, the model also works socio -emotional aspects of the students. “They develop autonomy, trust and communication capacity in different contexts. English is a global tool, present in business, technology and science. Our proposal is to prepare students for this world, regardless of social origin,” he says.
Created 25 years ago, Systemic Bilingual is already present in more than 150 private schools in Brazil. Pillar experience is the first large -scale application in the public network.
Exchange with other cities
The Alagoas experience has attracted public managers from all over the country. Representatives of 25 municipalities of different regions, such as Santo André (SP), Curitiba (PR), Acará (PA), São Simão (GO) and Recife (PE), visited pillar to know the model. During the visit, the students themselves, speaking in English, presented the school facilities. Visitors also talked to teachers and managers about the program implementation process. The final results of the research conducted by FGV should be released by the end of the second half of 2025.
