Only 1 in 5 succeeds: An urgent agenda to improve secondary education in Latin America and the Caribbean Date & Time September 04, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM ET

Only 1 in 5 succeeds: An urgent agenda to improve secondary education in Latin America and the Caribbean Report launch: Where Paths Divide: Transforming Secondary Education in Latin America and the Caribbean https://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2026/08/27/como-mejorar-la-educacion-secundaria-en-america-latina-y-el-caribe Over the last two decades, Latin America and the Caribbean has brought millions of adolescents into secondary education. Net enrollment increased from 59 to 81 percent, with particularly significant gains among the poorest households. But expanding access has not been enough: only about 1 in 5 young people (19%) complete secondary education with minimum proficiency in reading and math. Among the poorest youth, only about 1 in 20 (6%) achieve this. How can this historic expansion be turned into better learning and real opportunities? As we await the new PISA results, we invite you to join the presentation of the World Bank’s new regional report on secondary education in Latin America and the Caribbean: Where Paths Divide: Transforming Secondary Education in Latin America and the Caribbean. Drawing on two decades of household survey data and standardized learning assessments, the report examines why expanded access has not translated into better learning outcomes and what governments can do to change this reality.