While the provision of education is the responsibility of the states, the federal Ministry of Education (MEC) has played an important role in this context. What is essential for this improvement to be realised, however, is to improve teacher training and create the right performance incentives now. While the provision of education is the responsibility of the states, the federal Ministry of Education (MEC) has played an important role in this context. In addition, it has required states and municipalities to establish a formal recruitment process and career plan for teachers, and set a nationwide floor for teacher pay in 2009. In-service training to improve the capabilities of existing teachers has become more prominent, and some states have founded specific schools for training current teachers.