The  Ministry of Education (MEC)  is an organ of the direct federal administration and is responsible for the following subjects: national education policy, early childhood education, education in general, comprising elementary school, high school, higher education, youth and adult education, professional education, special education and distance education, evaluation, information and educational research, university research and extension, teaching and financial assistance to needy families for the schooling of their children. children or dependents. To fulfill these competencies, the MEC may establish partnerships with civil and military institutions that have successful experiences in education. In accordance with the Regimental Structure of the MEC approved by the Decree nº 10.195 , of December 31, 2019, there are four hierarchical levels, which act in an articulated way, in the definition of policies and actions for the expansion and improvement of the quality of Brazilian education. The first one deals with direct and immediate assistance to the Minister of State for Education, and is composed of the Cabinet of the Minister, the Executive Secretariat, the Legal Consultancy, the Special Advisory for Internal Control and the Internal Affairs Department. The other final unit brings together the following singular specific bodies:  Secretary of Basic Education (SEB) ,  Secretary of Higher Education (Sesu) ,  Secretary of Professional and Technological Education (Setec) ,  Secretary of Regulation and Supervision of Higher Education (Seres),  Secretariat of Literacy (Sealf) ,  Secretariat of Specialized Modalities of Education (Semesp) , Benjamin Constant Institute and National Institute of Education for the Deaf (INES). Next is the National Education Council (CNE), a collegiate body of the MEC. Finally, the linked entities are presented, which are classified into autarchies, public foundations and public companies.