Before 1930, matters related to education were the responsibility of the
National Department of Education (), which was part of the
Ministry of Justice at the time. In 1930, as
Getúlio Vargas took office as
president, the
Ministry of Education and Public Health () was established, taking away education matters from the Ministry of Justice. In 1953, the ministry was split into two: the
Ministry of Health, and the
Ministry of Education and Culture (, with the acronym
MEC, which lasts to this day). In 1985, during
José Sarney's presidency, it was again split into two: the
Ministry of Culture, and the
Ministry of Education. In 1992, as
Itamar Franco took office as president, sports were made part of the ministry again, which was subsequently renamed
Ministry of Education and Sports (). In 1995, during
Fernando Henrique Cardoso's presidency, that was once again changed, separating the
Ministry of Education from the then
Ministry of Sports. The incumbent Education Minister is senator
Camilo Santana. ==List of ministers==