Distrito Federal education faces crisis as teacher illness rises

The public education system in Brazil's Distrito Federal is facing a dual crisis of declining academic performance and rising rates of professional illness among educators. According to Ideb 2025 data, the Distrito Federal recorded the worst performance in high school, with the public school network failing to meet targets across all educational stages.

Simultaneously, there is a significant increase in teacher absenteeism due to health issues. Data from the Ministry of Social Security indicates a 68% increase in leaves taken by education professionals for mental and behavioral disorders between 2023 and 2024. In the Distrito Federal, 56% of educators take annual health leave, with 70% of those cases linked to mental and behavioral conditions. In 2023, more than 3,000 teachers were absent, ranking the region second in the country for such leaves.

Common diagnoses include Burnout Syndrome, depression, anxiety, musculoskeletal disorders, and vocal problems. Sinpro identifies structural causes for this trend, including excessive workloads, outdated salaries, lack of support from the SEEDF, precarious working conditions, and a shortage of professionals.