Brazil Enacts New National Education Plan to Guide Decade of Reform

The Brazilian government has officially launched its National Education Plan for 2026–2036, a comprehensive framework designed to shape the country's academic priorities over the next decade. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed the legislation into law in April 2026, marking the culmination of years of advocacy and coalition-building by civil society groups. The plan sets ambitious targets for universal access, student retention, and the equitable distribution of quality education across the nation. A central pillar of the new law is a commitment to significantly boost financial investment in the school system. The government has pledged to gradually increase education spending from the current 7 percent to 10 percent of the national gross domestic product over the next ten years. While previous plans included similar funding goals that were not fully realized, supporters believe this iteration provides a more robust structure for implementation. Beyond funding, the legislation introduces mandatory changes to the basic education curriculum. Schools across the country are now required to integrate political education and citizens’ rights into their regular studies. This change aims to ensure that students gain a deeper understanding of how society is organized and how to participate effectively in democratic processes. To complement these classroom changes, the government also established a National Ethics and Citizenship Week. Held annually during the first week of May, this initiative encourages schools and civil society organizations to host activities that promote moral values and combat corruption. These efforts are intended to foster a stronger sense of civic responsibility among the student population. The new law also reinforces existing requirements for the teaching of Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous history and culture. By embedding these subjects into the national framework, the government seeks to ensure that the curriculum reflects the diverse heritage of the country. This move is seen as a vital step toward creating a more inclusive learning environment for all students. These policy shifts follow a period of measurable improvement in Brazil's education indicators. Recent data from the Ministry of Education shows that dropout rates and grade-level delays have decreased since 2023. Education Minister Leonardo Barchini attributed these gains to a combination of targeted retention programs and improved conditions for basic education. One specific success highlighted by officials is the National Commitment to Literate Children. This program has been linked to a significant rise in literacy rates, which climbed from 36 percent in 2021 to 66 percent in 2025. The program has since been established as a permanent state policy to ensure long-term consistency. Efforts to expand full-time education have also gained momentum under recent reforms. By 2025, the country reached its target of having one in every four students enrolled in full-time systems, which provide at least seven hours of instruction daily. This expansion has created more space for tutoring, arts, and sports, which educators say helps keep students engaged. Technological integration remains a priority as well, with the share of public schools having adequate-speed internet rising to 72 percent by 2025. This digital progress is supported by initiatives like the UNESCO-recognized Redação Paraná program, which uses artificial intelligence to provide feedback on student writing. Such tools are designed to assist teachers in managing large classrooms while maintaining personalized support. Despite these advancements, challenges remain in ensuring that reforms reach every region equally. The government is currently working with organizations like the Center for Learning on Evaluation and Results for Lusophone Africa and Brazil to train managers on using data to guide policy. These efforts aim to ensure that future decisions are based on evidence and local needs. As the country moves forward with the 2026–2036 plan, the focus will shift toward the practical implementation of these goals. The success of the new law will depend on the ability of state and municipal governments to maintain consistent funding and support for schools. Observers note that the active involvement of civil society will continue to be a key factor in holding the system accountable to its promises.