Brazil: 9% of public school teachers lack full qualifications

A report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reveals that 9% of public basic education teachers in Brazil lacked full qualifications between 2024 and 2025. This figure is closely aligned with the OECD average of 9.1%. The lack of qualification includes teachers without diplomas, certifications, or pedagogical training, often due to professional shortages.

Recruitment difficulties are most pronounced in remote or vulnerable regions, particularly in the fields of mathematics and natural sciences. While the number of teachers in the early years of elementary school in Brazil grew by 4% between 2015 and 2024, student enrollment during the same period fell by 7%.

The OECD projects that the population of children aged 5 to 14 in Brazil will decrease by 3% between 2024 and 2033, a trend that may reduce future demand for teachers if current policies remain unchanged.