Social inequalities in Brazil directly affect the different conditions of access to education in the country. Almost every Brazilian education indicator clearly reflects this fact.

Inequalities in the conditions of the access to education and in educational performances are very evident among Brazilian children, young people and adults. It particularly jeopardizes specific ethnic-racial social groups: the poor and rural populations; and youth and adults who have not concluded compulsory education at the right age.

Large racial and ethnic inequalities prevail in the Brazilian society (especially in some specific groups such as the indigenous population, the afro-descendant population, the “quilombolas”, the prisonal population and the rural population).

Literature shows that there are strong correlations between ethnic origin and educational opportunities. These coexist side by side with social and regional inequalities, thus contributing to the educational exclusion of a considerable number of youth and adults.

UNESCO intends to give support to the country in the implementation of affirmative actions to promote equal opportunities to the access of education including all groups of Brazilian society.