Education

The Global Education First Initiative, GEFI, has three main priorities: to put every child

in school, to improve the quality of learning, and foster global citizenship. The GEFI has an

extremely positive and huge impact on education. Several advocacy groups worldwide go out

and inform, raise money, and raise awareness about the initiative.

Graph One: This graph Show improvement over a

nine year span. As you can see, there was a

significant improvement in mathematics but not in

reading or science. This stagnant change is more

than likely due to the illiteracy rates. However, these

changes show improvement.

Research found by the Instituto Paulo Montenegro shows that 38% of Brazilian

undergraduates are functionally illiterate. Dictionary.com defines functionally illiterate as a

person with some basic education who still falls short of a minimum standard of literacy or

whose reading and writing skills are inadequate to everyday needs. Despite this, Brazils

illiteracy rates have been improving since the 20th century. In three decades Brazils illiteracy

rates were cut in half from 40% to 20%.

The government is one main factor that contributes to the progression of education.

Cynthia Fujikawa Nes writes in The Brazil Business, In 2014 the Brazilian Government

announced This program, denominated PNE, short for Plano Nacional de Educao, is

composed of 21 measures and aims, amongst others, to increase the number of mandatory

education years, the percentage of Brazilians going to schools and universities and provide

means for teachers to improve their qualifications and skills. Nas also includes that the Brazil
wanted to increase the percentage of GDP to education.

Graph Two: This graph shows the amount of money spent on each student. In Brazil,

universities only account for 2% of all students but receive 25% of all education funding.

As I explained I do believe Brazil has done an adequate job at keeping children in school

and improving the quality of education. However I also believe more can be done.
Image One: Classrooms are seen as boring especially to primary and elementary aged students.

The last priority I would like to address is the fostering of global citizenship. Global

citizenship (through education) would thrive if the Brazilian culture was brought into the

classroom. The culture in itself is so rich and remarkable. The internet has helped students that

have had the opportunity to use it in a positive way; the internet helps the sharing of information

from people to people that are miles apart.

 References

Ednir, M. (2015, March 25). A Brazilian View on Global Citizenship Education. Retrieved

March 28, 2017, from http://www.globaleducationmagazine.com/brazilian- view-global-

citizenship-education/

(Ryndak) Brazil's Education Reform in So Paulo - Origins and Framework. (n.d.). Retrieved

March 28, 2017, from http://intled.blogspot.com/2014/04/ryndak-brazils-education-

reform-in-sao.html

About | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. (n.d.). Retrieved

March 28, 2017, from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/gefi/about/

Hickner, L. (n.d.). Education and Inequality in Latin America. Retrieved March 28, 2017,

from https://worldfund.org/en/about-us/education-gap.html

Logan, A. (2016, March 15). Increasing Literacy Rates in Brazil. Retrieved March 28, 2017,

from http://www.borgenmagazine.com/increasing-literacy-rates-brazil/

Nas, C. (2015, August 12). The Brazilian Educational System. Retrieved March 28, 2017, from

http://thebrazilbusiness.com/article/the-brazilian-educational-system