Eduardo Leite's Rio Grande do Sul reports lowest teacher pay ranking and launches credit lines for tourism innovation

A study by the Departamento Intersindical de Estatística e Estudos Socioeconômicos (DIEESE) using the National Education Plan indicator shows that Rio Grande do Sul ranks last among Brazilian states in teacher salary valuation. Public‑school teachers earn an average gross monthly salary of R$ 4,980.90, about 76.8 % of the earnings of other professionals with a university degree (R$ 6,483.90), leaving a gap of roughly R$ 1,500 per month and missing the target set for 2020 and reaffirmed for 2026‑2036.

Governor Eduardo Leite, who has highlighted education as a priority, also announced at the Palácio Piratini the creation of two credit lines totalling R$ 500 million to support innovation and tourism projects in the state. The RS InovaMais program will provide up to R$ 400 million for companies pursuing productivity, energy efficiency, process optimisation or digital transformation, with a maximum of R$ 20 million per firm. The CrediTur RS line will allocate R$ 100 million to tourism ventures, initially focusing on the Pampa, Vale do Taquari, Costa Doce and Litoral Norte regions. Both programs offer interest rates of IPCA + 6 % (about 10 % per year) and a five‑year repayment period with a twelve‑month grace period.