RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The school dropout rate among children in the literacy phase, aged 5 to 9, increased by almost 198% last year throughout Brazil. The rate rose from 1.41% in 2020 to 5.51% in 2021, the highest figure in 14 years.
The Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV) data show that the pandemic has caused several impacts on education.
In Paraná alone, the school dropout rate grew from 2% to 4.4%. According to the Paraná Regional Council of Social Service coordinator Andreliane Godoy, an active search for students is necessary for this rate to decrease in the coming months.
Data from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) show that over 635 million students are still affected by the pandemic. In Brazil, in several states, the UN agency reports that 3 out of 4 children in the second grade of elementary school are behind with reading.
In addition, 10% of students between the ages of 10 and 15 said they do not plan to return to school when classrooms reopen.