Pnad: Brazil does not reach target for children in elementary school – 03/22/2024 – Education

For the first time in eight years, Brazil did not reach the target of having 95% of children and adolescents aged 6 to 14 enrolled in primary education (from 1st to 9th year), an appropriate school stage for this age group.

According to data from Pnad (Continuous National Household Sample Survey) Education, released this Friday (22) by IBGE, in 2023 the country would have 94.6% of the population of this age attending primary school.

This is the lowest percentage since the beginning of the Pnad Educação historical series, in 2016. The research report points to concern, as there was a drop in children enrolled in the correct stage in all regions of the country, with the exception of the north.

“The analysis of the series of this indicator shows that its estimate registered a percentage higher than 95% from 2016 to 2022, however, with this retraction to the lowest level in the series (in 2023), the indicator became below the target recommended by the PNE [Plano Nacional de Educação]”, says the document.

The highest percentage achieved by the country in this indicator was recorded in 2018, when 97.4% of children and adolescents in this age group were in primary school. From that year onwards, the proportion began to fall.

Another survey, published last Monday (18), already pointed to problems with school attendance at this educational stage. According to a study carried out by Fundação Itaú, 48% of Brazilian students are unable to finish primary education at the right age, that is, until the age of 15.

They are unable to complete the regular trajectory at this stage because they suffer complications such as failing, dropping out or dropping out of school.

“The 2023 School Census gave us some clues about the problems that are occurring at this stage of education. During the pandemic, the school dropout rate in the final years of elementary school [do 6º ao 9º ano] grew and did not improve post-pandemic”, says Jhonatan Almada, member of the UNESCO Network of Specialists in Educational Policy.

He highlights the increase in the population living in poverty and misery in Brazil, as one of the possible factors for school dropout. “The situation of extreme poverty is related to child labor, which has increased again in the country. We need multi-articulated policies to keep these children in school.”