Peru’s Education System Faces Crisis as Textbook Funding Plummets
Peru’s education system is facing a deepening crisis as state investment in essential learning materials – textbooks and printed resources – has drastically declined over the past decade, falling by as much as 24 times. The alarming trend is raising concerns about student performance and the overall quality of education in the nation, according to a recent warning from the Peruvian Chamber of Books.
The Chamber issued an open letter to both the public and Peruvian authorities, outlining the detrimental effects of these funding cuts. The letter emphasizes that education is a shared responsibility, requiring contributions from the state, social organizations, the private sector, and communities to foster “democratic and sustainable coexistence.”
The Critical Role of Learning Materials
Experts consistently highlight the vital link between access to quality learning materials and student success. Nuno Crato, a professor and former Minister of Education of Portugal, asserts that textbooks and well-designed study plans can accelerate learning by the equivalent of one to two years of schooling. This perspective is strongly supported by a 2018 National Teacher Survey, which revealed that three out of four teachers identified “adequate and sufficient educational materials” as the most important factor in improving their teaching practices.
PISA Results Reveal Stagnant Performance
The impact of underfunding is already visible in Peru’s educational outcomes. Results from the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) show Peru scoring 408 points in reading comprehension – below the average for countries within the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and lagging behind regional neighbors like Chile and Uruguay. The data reveals a troubling reality: less than 6% of Peruvian students reach advanced reading levels, and half struggle to even locate literal information in short texts. Furthermore, Peru did not demonstrate any improvement in science or reading scores compared to 2018, and experienced a significant decline in mathematics.
Dramatic Cuts to Education Budgets
The root of the problem lies in the sustained reduction of public investment in teaching materials. Between 2016 and 2025, the overall budget allocated to these resources was reduced by nearly eight times. However, the impact is most acutely felt in the funding for books, texts, and printed materials, which experienced a staggering 24-fold decrease:
- Primary Education: Funding per student plummeted from S/ 18.3 in 2016 to S/ 1.18 in 2025.
- Secondary Education: Investment per student fell from S/ 59.31 in 2016 to S/ 1.85 in 2025.
- Initial Education: Funding stands at a mere S/ 0.25 cents per student.
Compounding the issue, approximately S/ 16 million allocated to the National Fund for Book Democratization and Reading Promotion consistently remains unspent, reverting to the public treasury and hindering the development of policies designed to strengthen the country’s book and reading ecosystem.
Looking Ahead to PISA 2025
As Peru prepares to participate in the PISA evaluation again in 2025, the Peruvian Chamber of Books acknowledges the dedication of teachers in bridging existing gaps. However, the organization stresses that sustained improvements in reading comprehension are unattainable without providing students – particularly those most in need – with access to books, texts, and both printed and digital learning materials.
The Chamber is urging authorities to prioritize sufficient and strategic investment in education as they formulate the 2026 Public Sector Budget, aligning with Goal 4 of the Sustainable Development Goals – to ensure inclusive, equitable, and quality education for all. Adequate financing, they argue, is essential to unlock learning opportunities and build a brighter future for Peru’s children and adolescents.
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