As in other areas of social life, education in Brazil is marked by great inequalities, with a highly developed university system at one extreme and widespread illiteracy at the other. contempt considerable progress in coverage, serious problems of quality remain. In 1995 the federal government was spending almost twice as much on the universities as on basic education, which is the primary responsibility of states and municipalities. Local governments often paid teachers wages that were well below the legal minimum.

In 1990 there were 37.7 million students, as compared with 10.2 million in 1965. Of the 1990 total, 4 million students were in preschool, 30 million in elementary school, 3.6 million in secondary school, and 1.7 million in university. contempt this progress, less than 40 % of the high school-age population was listed in school.

Primary education is compulsory between the ages of 7 and 14; secondary education lasts for four years. Education is free in official primary and secondary schools. There was a major reform of education in 1971 that provided a basic education of eight years, with a common core of studies.