Although Brazil has recorded declining rates of learning poverty over the last 10 years, largely due to its efforts in elementary education, it still faces a rate of 48%. This means that 48% of Brazilian children aged 10 cannot read and understand a simple story.
At a recent event organized by Todos Pela Educação and Itaú BBA, Jaime Saavedra, Global Director of Education at the World Bank, delivered a keynote speech in which he presented the goals of the Human Capital Project and the global learning poverty target. In front of an audience composed of representatives from the private sector, politicians, and civil society, he presented the new learning poverty data from the Bank and specific findings for Brazil. He explained that quality education brings great returns for productivity and competitiveness and how, currently, Brazil is not measuring up to other countries at its income level.
“Brazil could increase the quality of education and labor productivity by expanding quality early childhood education with smart engagement from the private sector, reforming the initial and practical training of teachers, a general reform to professionalize the teaching career, and providing more equitable funding and support to municipalities,” Saavedra explained.
His comments were echoed by other speakers, including Priscila Cruz, Executive President and Co-founder of Todos Pela Educação, who emphasized the importance of investing in people, and Rodrigo Maia, President of the National Congress, who mentioned the need to ensure more efficiency in public spending on education.
For Saavedra, however, eliminating learning poverty cannot be the sole responsibility of the Ministry of Education. It will require a multisectoral approach from the entire government. To explore the practicalities of making education a national priority, Saavedra participated in a panel titled “Education as a National Priority.” Alongside Ana Carla Abrão, Leader of Oliver Wyman, Marcos Magalhães, President and Founder of the Institute of Co-responsibility for Education, Paulo Hartung, former Governor of Espírito Santo, and chaired by João Marcelo Borges, Director of Political Strategy at Todos Pela Educação, the participants discussed the importance of applying the lessons from successful state reforms in Ceará, Pernambuco, and Espírito Santo.
Source: World Bank