Reading and math skills of Brazilian schoolchildren aged 7 dropped in 2021 in relation to 2019, according to data from standardized tests conducted by the Education Ministry. The tests were administered late in 2021 in roughly 72,000 public and private schools attended by around 5.3 million students.
The average grade in reading dropped from 750 to 725.5 which experts consider a steep decrease. The average math grade fell from 750 to 741.
Fifth- and ninth-graders also experienced drops in reading and math, but less pronounced than those among younger students.
The Education Ministry said that this year’s tests took…