Brazil reports progress in literacy rates on World Literacy Day

September 8 marks World Literacy Day, a date established by the United Nations to emphasize the importance of literacy in developing a more just and sustainable society. In Brazil, the Ministry of Education (MEC) highlights the National Literacy Commitment for Children (CNCA), which aims to ensure children are literate by the end of the 2nd year of elementary school.

Recent data shows progress in Brazil, with 66% of children reaching literacy at the expected age in 2025, exceeding established goals. Furthermore, IBGE's 2025 Continuous National Household Sample Survey (Pnad Contínua) indicates an illiteracy rate of 4.9%, a decrease from 6.7% in 2016. The government aims for over 80% literacy by 2030.

Educational experts note that literacy involves complex cognitive processes, specifically the balance between the phonological route (decoding sounds) and the lexical route (visual word recognition). Developing phonological awareness—the ability to perceive sounds within words—is considered a central skill in the learning process.