Education in Brazil

The United Nations is always looking to improve the state of the world
and its countries in several different aspects. One of the main aspects the
United Nations focuses on it education. In its 1943 Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, the UN stated that everyone has a right to education.
Ensuring there is education for all is of high importance to the UN, such that
it was written as one of their Millennium Development Goals (UN Education
For All). With this goal, comes a list of six priorities set in place to ensure
there truly is Education for All. Of the six priorities, the three that stand out
in Brazils education system are increasing adult literacy, improving the
quality of education, and providing free and compulsory primary education.
Brazils education system is run by the Ministry of Education (MEC). It
consists of four stages. The first is early education, followed by the
equivalent of elementary school, secondary education, and vocational
school. Beyond that follows higher education (Department of Basic
Education). The early education, which is the equivalent to preschool, is
optional. Of the two Jardim, is much more structured, even including
meetings and tests before admission. Elementary education, for children
from six to fourteen, is mandatory for everyone. Secondary is for student
ages fifteen to eighteen. This is where the education once again optional,
however, it is deemed mandaotyr if one wishes to continue their education at

a university. Vocational education is taken alongside secondary (The School

System).
Based on the articles I came across, education in Brazil is suffering in
its present circumstances. Andrea Novais (2011) describes recent data that
reflects just how severe the situation is, as well as her reasoning behind it. In
her article, the Novais explains that ten percent of the population is
completely illiterate (Novais). This percentage has remained about the same
for over a decade. This is where Brazil is failing to increase adult literacy. The
cause of the failure of Brazils education system is deemed to be current
legislations. They do not solve the problem at its root but serve more as
quick fixes. Some specific examples are the scholarships given to public
school students and racial quotas for universities resulting in race being the
deciding factor instead of socioeconomic standing (Novais).
Improving the quality of education is one priority that Brazil has made
great strides in, but still has a significant amount of work left to be done. In
2001, the Brazilian president decided to have students partake in a test done
by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (No
longer bottom of the class). This test showed that Brazils students were last
in performance. As shown in Figure 1, the scores of the Brazilian students
have increased drastically within the last ten years. While that is a great
achievement for the country and its education system, the graph also

demonstrates that Brazil still has ways to go before they catch up to what
are considered to be the average scores. As seen in Figure 2.

Figure 1
Figure 2
One way Brazil is thriving, is in its
providing
of

early
childhood education.
Although it is deemed
as optional, the
options
provided for pre-school work well for different needs. The first

option, Maternal, is for children from age two to age five. These are run by
the states. They are similar to daycare than actual preschool (The school
system). The second option, Jardim, is for children from three to six years
old. This option is more for parents to give their children a real jump start to
their education. Admittance to the school involves parent meetings, child
development evaluations, and placement based on those evaluations to best
fit the childs needs. In addition to the government offering such great
options, they offer them both at no cost (The school system).
When comparing its education to many strongholds of the world, Brazil
definitely is lacking in performance. Nonetheless, they are working towards

ensuring this lack of performance is corrected. It may not happen as quickly

as necessary, but the changes are present. The areas where Brazils
education is thriving, such as its early education programs, show that it has
the potential of one day having its overall education system strive, if the
correct changes are made.

References
The Brazilian educational system. (n.d.). Retrieved July 29, 2015, from
http://iberoamerican-universities.universia.net/en/brazil/educationalsystem/index.html
Department of Basic Education. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2015, from
http://portal.mec.gov.br/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=293&Itemid=810
Novais, A. (2011, October 30). The Brazilian Educational System.
Retrieved July 31, 2015, from http://thebrazilbusiness.com/article/thebrazilian-educational-system
No longer bottom of the class. (2010, December 11). Retrieved July 29,
2015, from http://www.economist.com/node/17679798

The School System. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2015, from

http://brazil.angloinfo.com/family/schooling-education/school-system/
United Nations. Education For All. (n.d.). Retrieved July 29, 2015, from
http://www.un.org/en/globalissues/briefingpapers/efa/