Public schools supplied with 150 million textbooks in 2015

By the end of February, 147,000 public, free-tuition schools across all Brazilian municipalities will be supplied with more than 150 million textbooks for the 2015 school year (which in Brazil begins and ends within a single calendar year). They will be used by 37 million primary and secondary school pupils.

The books will be provided as part of a National Textbook Program (PNDL) by mail delivery. According to the Ministry of Education, which runs the program, schools will be given the opportunity to choose those among the available titles which are best suited to their educational guidelines.

According to Marcos Silveira, Corporate Operations Manager for Brazil's Postal Service, the shipping operations engage 6,000 employees in carrying 90,000 tons of cargo by truck, van, plane, and boat. “This delivery operation has been a role of the Postal Service for 21 years, involving more than 120,000 trips. In some areas, such as the Amazon, we even have to use boats to ensure the books will arrive in time to be available to students before the school year begins.”

Silveira explained that the books are shipped directly to schools in urban areas, or to the local education boards for distribution to rural schools.

Translated by Mayra Borges