In Acre, Brazil, the Instituto de Administração Penitenciária do Acre (Iapen) reported that over 65% of inmates have passed the Exame Nacional para a Certificação de Competências de Jovens e Adultos para Pessoa Privada de Liberdade (Encceja PPL). This exam allows incarcerated individuals to receive certification equivalent to elementary or secondary education. A total of 1,533 prisoners participated, with 1,000 achieving success in their previously acquired knowledge outside formal schooling.

The increase in interest is evident, as the number of inmates who registered for the Encceja rose significantly in 2025 to 1,803, reflecting a 13.9% increase compared to the previous year. This upward trend signifies a growing recognition of the importance of education among the incarcerated population in Acre, indicating a potential change in how educational initiatives are perceived and implemented within the penal system.

The Encceja test is administered over two days, one dedicated to fundamental education certification and the other for secondary education certification. This initiative is part of broader efforts to enhance educational opportunities for inmates, promoting reintegration into society upon their release and addressing the educational gaps that many individuals face within the prison system, thus having larger implications for crime reduction and social reintegration efforts.