Brazil education funding falls below ideal levels in 18 states

A study by the Institute of Socioeconomic Studies (Inesc) reveals that 18 of Brazil's 27 federative units spent less than half of the ideal amount per student to finance public education between 2021 and 2025.

The study utilizes the Quality Student Cost (CAQ) parameter to estimate the necessary annual investment per student to ensure adequate teaching conditions. Reference values range from R$ 10,000 in Rio de Janeiro to R$ 15,500 in Piauí. The Distrito Federal was the only state to exceed the CAQ, spending R$ 16,000 per enrollment against a R$ 10,000 reference.

Significant funding gaps were noted in several states: Maranhão spent only 22% of the ideal R$ 12,600, while Alagoas and Ceará invested approximately 25% and 28%, respectively. In Piauí, where the CAQ is highest at R$ 15,500, the actual expenditure was R$ 3,700. States such as Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul also fell below reference values. Conversely, São Paulo and Amapá approached the CAQ more closely, with São Paulo reaching nearly 77% of its R$ 10,800 reference.