Brazil's FUNDEB Redistribution Failures

Brazil's FUNDEB system spends 28% less per student in northern municipalities than in wealthy southern states, despite constitutional earmarks requiring equal distribution. In the north, 42% of schools lack running water, and average student-teacher ratios exceed 35:1. The system pours money into payroll without performance incentives, so teacher absenteeism reaches 18% in poor districts. FUNDEB perpetuates a two-tier education system where students in wealthier regions graduate with 50% higher literacy rates.