Education in Brazil
An International Perspective
The Education in Brazil: An International Perspective report was developed drawing on internationally comparative data on education in Brazil, in particular the extensive range of data collected by the OECD through its surveys. The experiences of other countries and how they have tackled challenges similar to those now faced by Brazil, along with the insights from consultations with key national experts, also inform the analysis. The report benchmarks with OECD and a set of comparator emerging economies the whole education system from early childhood education and care to tertiary education, focusing on:
- Access and participation
- Learning and labour market outcomes
- The allocation, use and efficiency of financial, human and material resources
- School leaders, teachers and teaching
- The school climate and student well-being
The report highlights the many strengths of Brazil’s education system, identifies the main challenges ahead and offers policy implications for the future.
The Brazilian education system
Even before the COVID-19 crisis, the economic growth and reduced inequality which Brazil achieved over recent decades had stalled and gone into reverse. Against that background, the COVID-19 pandemic has deepened economic recession, and has hit hardest on those least able to cope with the downturn, exacerbating inequalities that still place Brazil among the more unequal countries globally. Education, the topic of this report, has played a big part in Brazil’s progress, and has the potential to support the country’s recovery. This report will examine the strategic challenges faced by Brazil in improving the quality and equity of education while also addressing the immediate demands flowing from the COVID-19 crisis. Chapter 1 sets the scene for this report, describing the national context, and the education system of Brazil and how it is organised and governed.