Education in Brazil

The main goals set by the United Nations is to put every child in school, improve the

quality of education, and to foster global citizenship (UNESCO, 2017). In regards to Brazil

meeting those standards they have been making good strides to be up to standard but are not

quite adequate. Due to professional shortages in the past Brazil has fallen behind, but in recent

years has been making strides to decrease illiteracy and the government is getting more involved

in the education system (Nes, 2015). Brazil is working hard to meet the goals set forth to put

every child in school, improve quality of education, and foster global citizenship but is still

falling short in some aspects.

In regards to the first goal set by the United Nations, put every child in school, Brazil’s

education is completely free. Primary and secondary education in Brazil is free and they are

required by law to attend, so from ages 6-14 every child is able to attend school (10 facts, 2015).

Along with that upper secondary education which is ages 15-18 is also completely free but is not

required. Allowing school to be free for all students greatly increases the chances that all

children will be attending school. Brazils government in 2014 implemented PNE, short for Plano

Nacional de Educação, that is composed of 21 measures to increase the number of mandatory

education years (Brazilian Educational, 2017). By implementing the PNE it is a step in the right

direction to making the goal of having ever child in school. Brazil is also making strides in a

positive direction in relation to improving the quality of education for students in Brazil but the

quality between public and privet schools is still lacking immensely.

 In Brazil the government has ignored the problem in education in their country for many

years but now it making changes to improve the quality of education for all students. Brazil

increased public spending on education from 10.5% in 2000, to 14.5% in 2005, and to 16.8% in

2009 (Brazilian Educational, 2017). Increasing spending on education will allow for the schools

to make necessary improvements that will increase quality. Although there is still some work to

be done in regards to quality. In Brazil 80% of students chose to attend a privet school in order to

receive better education (Brazilian Educational, 2017). This is because public schools are still

being faced with over-crowding, lack of teachers, and lack of security (Brazilian Educational,

2017). Brazil has made some quality improvements in relation to higher education. The

differences in public and privet schools was causing public school students getting accepted into

universities. So, in 2012 Brazil passed a law that requires universities to allocate 50% of the

available spots to public school students (Brazilian Educational, 2017). Brazil is making good

progress but is really falling short specially in global citizenship.

Global citizenship in Brazilian education system is incorporated into some of the direct

instruction outlined in the Brazilian National Parameters for Education (Ednir,2015). To

incorporate direct and engaging education of global citizenship would require more improvement

from public schools.

Overall, Brazil is making great efforts to improve education in the country. In relation to

the goals set by the United Nations Brazil is working hard to be adequate but is still behind.

Brazil’s efforts to enforce children to go to school and by making school free is a great step

towards getting every child in school. Brazil is still lacking in quality education but has made an

improvement in the quality of how public students relate to privet school students. In terms of

global citizenship Brazil is in great need of improvement.

 References

Nes , C. F. (2015, August 12). The Brazilian Educational System. Retrieved March 29, 2018,

from http://thebrazilbusiness.com/article/the-brazilian-educational-system

(n.d.). Retrieved November 07, 2017, from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/gefi/priorities/

10 Facts About the Education System of Brazil. (2015, May 07). Retrieved March 29, 2018,

from https://acei-global.blog/2013/06/13/10-facts-about-the-education-system-of-brazil/

The Brazilian Educational System. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2018, from

http://thebrazilbusiness.com/article/the-brazilian-educational-system

Ednir, M. (2015, March 25). A Brazilian View on Global Citizenship Education. Retrieved

March 29, 2018, from http://www.globaleducationmagazine.com/brazilian-view

global-citizenship-education/