Higher Education Problems Could Slow Brazil’s Development

In 2012 the Brazilian economy grew to become the sixth largest in the world, overtaking Great Britain. With a rising middle class, flourishing commodities sector, and huge offshore oil deposits, the country seems poised to continue its upward trajectory. The state of higher education, however, may be holding it back.
Brazil lags behind in higher education, with only 17% of Brazilians aged 18-24 enrolled in a university degree program or having obtained a diploma. Brazilians, on average, receive only 7.3 years of schooling, according to government statistics, and less than half of workers have finished high school. In 2009 the OECD ranked Brazil 53rd out of 65 countries in math and literacy skills.
The number of low-skilled jobs available is shrinking in Brazil’s changing economy, and the need for highly skilled professionals, especially engineers, is growing. Often there are not enough qualified candidates to fill the skilled positions, and this scarcity is already having an impact on businesses. Read more...