A significant drop in student enrollments in São Paulo state schools has caused a rift between federal and state governments and led to a call for reevaluation of educational data.
A recent report from the Inep (National Institute of Educational Studies and Research) indicated a concerning drop of nearly half a million student enrollments in São Paulo's state schools, stirring debate between the federal government, led by President Lula, and the state government under Tarcísio de Freitas. This notable decline, emphasized in the 2025 School Census, highlighted São Paulo's 17% reduction in high school enrollments, which was significantly higher than the national average, raising alarms among policymakers and educators alike.
As the state recorded over 1.5 million enrollments in 2024, the numbers fell to approximately 1.26 million in the last year, representing a direct loss of 256,939 high school students. This drastic shift has prompted calls from Governor Tarcísio for a reevaluation of the census data, arguing against the notion that this decline translates into a lesser number of students being served by state schools. Both state and federal officials have claimed differing interpretations of the data, indicating a deeper dissonance in educational policy priorities.
Academic experts have also expressed their concerns regarding the discrepancies in the data, questioning the reliability of the census figures. The ongoing debate reflects broader themes in Brazilian education, particularly as it grapples with enrollment challenges and quality issues in its public school systems. The rift between state and federal responses sheds light on the complexities of educational governance in Brazil and the need for a unified approach to understanding and addressing these enrollment challenges.
