Bahia sees gains in student participation and enrollment in education assessments

The municipal school network in Ilhéus, Bahia, reported significant improvements in the 2025 Sistema de Avaliação Baiano de Educação (SABE). Student participation rose sharply, with 5th‑grade enrollment increasing from 51 % to 90 %, 9th‑grade from 40 % to 80 %, and 2nd‑grade reaching 88 % in Portuguese and 86 % in Mathematics. Proficiency indicators also moved upward across these grades, and several schools were highlighted for strong performance.

Separately, the state of Bahia achieved the fourth‑highest national ranking for enrollment of children aged 0‑5, according to the continuous PNAD survey. Officials attributed the rise to expanded full‑day schooling, upgraded infrastructure and policies aimed at keeping students in school, which have helped reduce dropout and boost retention rates.