Brazil addresses literacy and proficiency challenges through diverse educational initiatives

Brazil is facing significant educational hurdles, with recent data from the IBGE PNAD Contínua Education indicating that 8.4 million people aged 15 and older remain illiterate. While the illiteracy rate has dropped below 5% for the first time since 2016, the scale of the challenge persists.

To combat this, initiatives like the Escola Nota 10 project, supported by MRV and Alicerce Educação, are transforming construction sites into classrooms. These programs provide personalized instruction to workers, many of whom have been away from formal education for decades.

Simultaneously, academic concerns are rising regarding student proficiency. 2026 PISA results revealed that only 49% of Brazilian 15-year-olds reached minimum proficiency levels in reading, with only 1% achieving high proficiency. Educators have also noted a decline in writing and speaking skills, potentially driven by reduced face-to-face interaction and the heavy use of social media and artificial intelligence.