The Right to Basic Education: A Brief and Urgent Opportunity to Prioritize Early Childhood Education

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to discuss the existing evidence to inform decisions regarding the prioritization of basic education in light of changes in the age distribution of the Brazilian population. To this end, the Active Population Effort (APE) indicator and the Future Expectation (FE) indicator were developed and adopted, studied in 30-year intervals for the period from 1965 to 2085, based on secondary and public data. It is estimated that a baby born in 2025 will have to make, by the age of 60, an effort 60.6% greater than that required of an adult in 2025 to guarantee the rights of the young and elderly populations. Furthermore, the Future Expectation indicator will be only 17.6% of what it was in 1965. It is concluded that, due to the lack of investment in education in the past and present, it is essential to effectively and intensively prioritize the Right to Education immediately and over the next three decades to mitigate the risk of economic and social collapse and prevent the babies and children of 2025 from being doubly penalized: i) for having their right to education neglected; ii) by having to bear, as adults, the burden of supporting many more dependents. It is evident that within a few decades it will no longer be possible to maintain current levels of investment in education, which makes it extremely urgent that this effort be undertaken immediately, with a special focus on early childhood education.