This article is based on a press release from the UNESCO Office in Brasília.
On July 22, the Portuguese version of the Teacher Task Force & UNESCO Global Report on Teachers: Addressing Teacher Shortages and Transforming the Profession was officially launched in Brazil. The national event, organized by UNESCO Brazil in partnership with the Brazilian Federal Agency for Support and Evaluation of Graduate Education (CAPES), a public entity linked to the Brazilian Ministry of Education (MoE), and Fundação SM Brazil, took place in Brasília, the capital.
The launch attracted over 200 participants, including representatives from educational institutions, government bodies, academia, and basic education teachers. It provided a platform to discuss the report’s key findings and recommendations, focusing on the Brazilian context and the urgent need to address teacher shortages in basic education. The event was livestreamed and is available on the UNESCO Brazil YouTube channel, where it has already surpassed 1,700 views. Distinguished speakers included representatives from the Ministry of Education’s teacher training division, CAPES, the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), and the National Confederation of Education Workers (CNTE). Marlova Noleto, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Brasilia Office, delivered a speech during the opening session. A message from Carlos Vargas, Chief of the Teacher Development Section at UNESCO HQ, was presented via video. Rebeca Otero, Education Coordinator for UNESCO Brazil, moderated a panel featuring Valtencir Mendes, Chief of Education at the UNESCO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean.
The event panels reflected a balance of gender and race, with special acknowledgment given to Shirley Costa, a Black woman and mathematics teacher from Brazil’s Northeast, whose inspiring work encourages girls to pursue studies in STEM fields.
In terms of localization efforts, UNESCO Brazil also presented the report at one of the largest educational events in the country. In addition to the national launch, Rebeca Otero, UNESCO Brazil Education Coordinator, presented the report at the 20th National Forum of UNDIME, another significant educational event held in Salvador, Bahia. This forum gathered over 3,200 participants, primarily municipal secretaries of education, who play a key role in implementing teacher-related public policies across Brazil. The broader dissemination of the report’s findings helped stimulate critical dialogue on transforming the teaching profession and reinforced the importance of coordinated efforts to ensure quality education for all.
Information and resources
- Global Report on Teachers (Portuguese version)
- Webinar from the launch
Photo credit: Julia Prado - CGCOM/CAPES