Founded in 1937 as a special research agency linked to the Ministry of Education, the National Institute for Educational Studies and Research "Anísio Teixeira" (Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas Educacionais Anísio Teixeira, INEP) is presently responsible for assessing basic and higher education nationally. It is also accountable for educational statistics that help formulate, implement, monitor and evaluate educational policies in the federal government, as well as in state and local government levels.
Inep plays a strategic role in the Federal Government's efforts to raise educational standards in Brazil, in accordance with the more participatory, accountable and competitive environment that Brazilian society now demands.
