Poll: 72 Percent of Brazilians Think Schools Should Only Reopen after Coronavirus Vaccine

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – For 72 percent of Brazilians in classes A, B, and C, students should only return to in-person classes after a vaccine for the novel coronavirus is available, according to an IBOPE survey released by the newspaper “O Globo” on Monday, September 7th.

The survey was conducted online between August 21st and 31st, with 2,626 people over 18 years and from classes A, B, and C. The survey’s reliability level is 95 percent within the error margin of two percentage points plus or minus.

The survey asked if respondents agreed with the statement that the return of students to the classroom should occur only when there is a vaccine; the result was as follows:

• 54 percent fully agree with the statement
• 18 percent partially agree
• 12 percent neither agree nor disagree
• 7 percent partially disagree
• 6 percent fully disagree
• 3 percent were unable to answer

With their doors closed since mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic, schools in Brazil are faced with the uncertainty of restarting classes. Amazonas was the first state to reopen schools on August 10th. Teachers urged the government to suspend classes because of an increase in Covid-19 cases in the class.

Last week, Pará state began to reopen private and municipal schools in some of its cities. According to the G1 survey as of August 30th, five states had plans to restart classes in the public school system.

Support for the reopening of schools before a vaccine is higher among men than women, according to the IBOPE survey.

Men:

• 49 percent fully agree with the statement
• 21 percent partially agree
• 11 percent neither agree nor disagree
• 8 percent partially disagree
• 8 percent fully disagree

Women:

• 58 percent fully agree
• 15 percent partially agree
• 13 percent neither agree nor disagree
• 7 percent partially disagree
• 4 percent fully disagree

Family income

Families earning between one and five minimum salaries agree the most with the reopening of schools after a vaccine. While 75 percent of them fully or partially agree with this statement, the number drops to 70 percent among those earning over five minimum salaries.

Among those who earn up to one minimum salary, 68 percent fully or partially agree with the reopening of schools only after a vaccine.

The percentage of those who partially or fully disagree with the statement is similar among the social classes: 14 percent of those who earn up to one minimum salary and between one and two. The rate is 13 percent among those who earn between two and five minimum salaries and 16 percent among those who earn over five minimum salaries.

Political position

Among those who define themselves as left-wing, 87 percent fully or partially agree with returning to classes after a vaccine. Among those in the center, 77 percent think likewise. Among right-wingers, the rate is 60 percent.

Among those who do not know their political position, 76 percent fully or partially agree with the statement.

Source: G1