BRASÍLIA, Feb 9 — The number of Brazilian children aged six and seven who do not know how to read or write has risen by 66 per cent during the coronavirus pandemic, a report found yesterday.

The report, by charitable group Todos Pela Educacao (All for Education), found the number of illiterate six — and seven-year-olds in Brazil rose from 1.4 million in 2019 to 2.4 million last year.

That represents 40.8 per cent of children in that age group — a worrying sign for a country that has been hit particularly hard by Covid-19, with widespread school closures that have been particularly detrimental for the poor.

It was the largest percentage since record-keeping on childhood illiteracy in Brazil began in 2012.

The group called the increase "worrying,” saying early illiteracy raises the risk such children will drop out of school in the future.

"We urgently need substantial policies to help children catch up,” said the group’s education policy specialist, Gabriel Correa.

"Backsliding on literacy is unacceptable.” — AFP