Published in the Official Gazette of Minas Gerais on January 15, 2025, Law 25.156 brought changes to school security in the state. The new norm authorizes the creation of security networks between schools and police forces, the use of video monitoring and metal detectors, as well as the hiring of security guards.
The original project aimed at hiring private armed security for inside schools, but it was amended during its processing to avoid one of the most controversial points: the presence of armed guards inside schools. State deputy Beatriz Cerqueira highlighted the importance of this modification, but maintained criticisms of the original project.
Beatriz Cerqueira emphasized that the private companies that would be hired had no responsibility for public functions. They would be armed men from private groups inside our state schools. With this, the Zema government authorizes the privatization of public security functions.
Luciano Mendes, PhD in Education and professor at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), also expressed concerns about the direction of the policies of Governor Romeu Zema’s government towards education. According to him, security cannot be treated in an authoritarian manner within the school environment.