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The Ayrton Senna Institute and the long view of education reform

The Ayrton Senna Institute and the long view of education reform
The Ayrton Senna Institute and the long view of education reform | Photo: Yevhenii Dubrovskyi

Education remains one of the most decisive factors shaping social mobility, economic resilience and democratic participation. In Brazil, where structural inequality continues to shape learning outcomes, long term education reform has become a central issue for economic competitiveness and social cohesion. Within this landscape, the work of the Ayrton Senna Institute stands out for its insistence on scale, evidence and institutional change rather than isolated intervention.


Founded in 1994 by Viviane Senna, the Ayrton Senna Institute was conceived as a living legacy to her brother, the Formula One driver Ayrton Senna. From its inception, the organisation rejected the creation of parallel education structures. Its strategy has consistently focused on strengthening public education systems from within, aligning pedagogy, school management and public policy to generate sustainable impact.


Education at scale rather than charity

Since its creation, the institute has supported more than 36 million students across over 3,000 municipalities, working almost exclusively with public school networks. This reach positions it not merely as a project implementer, but as a technical actor influencing how education policy is designed and executed at local and national levels.


The underlying rationale is pragmatic. Short term projects, however innovative, often struggle to survive political change. Systemic reform embeds improvements into institutions, professional practice and data driven governance. This approach directly addresses Brazil’s persistent challenges in literacy, age grade distortion and school completion.

 

Instituto Ayrton Senna

 

Literacy, progression and emotional development

Among its most established initiatives are programmes targeting early literacy and school flow. Se Liga focuses on literacy recovery, while Acelera Brasil supports students who have fallen behind their age group, enabling them to return to age appropriate classes. Together, these initiatives aim to secure literacy by the third year of primary school, a milestone strongly correlated with long term educational success.


Beyond academic skills, the institute has been a consistent advocate for socio emotional learning, integrating competencies such as collaboration, empathy and resilience into curricula. This reflects growing evidence that cognitive achievement alone is insufficient preparation for technological change, labour market uncertainty and civic participation.

Teacher training and school leadership development form a third pillar of its work.


Continuous professional development programmes support educators and principals in translating policy objectives into classroom practice. Recent municipal partnerships in Maceió and São Luís during 2025 and 2026 have reported improvements in pedagogical coordination and learning continuity.


Policy influence and institutional trust

A defining characteristic of the institute is its proximity to public administration. As a founding member of the Educação Já coalition, it contributes technical expertise to national education debates, helping ensure that reform proposals are grounded in research and implementation capacity.


This intermediary role between research, government and schools has allowed the organisation to shape policy agendas without assuming political authority. Its work is broadly aligned with SDG 4, reinforcing the principle that quality education underpins inclusive and sustainable development.


Financial autonomy and long term sustainability

The institute’s longevity is supported by a diversified funding model. Licensing of Ayrton Senna’s brand provides a stable revenue base, complemented by corporate partnerships with companies such as BIC and Lenovo. These collaborations prioritise educational tools and infrastructure rather than visibility, reinforcing technical credibility.


Citizen engagement initiatives, including small scale donation campaigns, further broaden public participation in education reform. Financial autonomy has been critical in maintaining strategic continuity across electoral cycles.


The relevance of the Ayrton Senna Institute lies less in individual programmes than in its method. By prioritising systemic reform, evidence based policy and human development, it offers a credible model for how non state actors can strengthen public education without displacing it.


In a country where educational inequality reflects broader social divides, the institute’s sustained impact provides a strong foundation for debate on education justice, policy innovation and responsible public private collaboration. Its experience suggests that lasting reform depends not on visibility, but on patience, institutional trust and technical rigour.


More information

Official website of the Ayrton Senna Institute:https://www.institutoayrtonsenna.org.br

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