CONFEST/CONFEGE 2025
A thousand students from public schools participate in workshop of day two of the National Conference of Data Producers and Users in Bahia
December 04, 2025 02h30 PM | Last Updated: December 05, 2025 11h30 AM
How far can young people's imagination go when it comes to mixing knowledge and technology? This question underpinned the workshop "Public Policies in the Digital Age: Mastering IBGE Data", this Thursday (4), at the National Conference of Data Producers and Users (CONFEST/CONFEGE), held in Salvador (BA).
The students from the public schools were warmly welcomed by the mascots of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), Bell and Pedro. The couple, symbols of the IBGEeduca, cheered up the workshop, bringing joy to the curious and impressed groups, who took many pictures and shot a lot of videos too.
Nearly 1500 students from the state education network are expected between December 4 and 5.
Mr. Rodrigo Rego, Innovation Manager of the Division of Online Services, presented the IBGE products and how they can be used to better understand the reality around us.
Samuel Andrade, a teenager student at the Isaías Alves State Center for Professional Education, Training and Events (ICEIA), was one of the participants. “I intend to take the university entrance exam for Computer Science and I was surprised by the technology used to compile data and produce maps,” said the student.
But it wasn't just the students' eyes that shone; the teachers also shared the same enthusiasm.
“They had the opportunity to understand the value of what they learn in class, what we talk about and teach. We still have the problem of lack of interest. So, coming here and having contact with this reality help reverse this situation,” said Geography teacher Márcia Noronha, highlighting the Digital Age: “It's a wonderful and practical world, available in the palm of your hand.”
From the same area, Igor de Jesus pointed out that most of the participants are high school and technical school students. “It's an opportunity for them to experience how the IBGE processes and disseminates its data.”
Another attraction for the groups was the inverted world map, with Bahia at the center of the world. João Paulo, a student from the same school, who had never participated in an event of this kind before, was particularly excited. "We realized how big our country is and how much we still don't know."
The Secretary of Education of the State of Bahia, Rowenna Britto, highlighted the partnership with the Institute. “We wanted the students' participation and, in a very kind way, the IBGE accepted this initiative. We recognize their role in the development of public policies and we needed to present this to the students.”
Organized by the IBGE, with support from the Government of the State of Bahia, the Federation of Industries of the State of Bahia (FIEB), Senai Cimatec, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Municipalities of Bahia (UPB), the National Conference of Data Producers and Users (CONFEST/CONFEGE) is sponsored by the Federal Data Processing Service (Serpro) and the Bank of the Northeast of Brazil S.A. (BNB).
Service: National Conference of Data Producers and Users (CONFEST/CONFEGE)
Theme: A Proposed General Plan for Statistical and Geographic Information (PGIEG) for the Development of Brazil in the Digital Age, between 2026 and 2030.
International sessions will be translated.
Date: December 3-5, in Salvador (BA)
Venue: SENAI Cimatec and SESI facilities
Address: Av. Orlando Gomes, 1845 – Piatã.
