This paper analyses how the 8.1 million Brazilian children and adolescents between 4-17 years who did not attend class in 1996 distribute throughout the national territory. It particularly questions the thesis that asserts that the school access universalization is guaranteed in Brazil since the 80s and that non-attendance stands around 5%. In 1996, the rates of non-attendance to school for youths between 4-17 years were always above 5% and even exceeded 20% in extreme groups, that is, youngsters between 4-6 or 15-17 years. Therefore, non-attendance to school continues being a real problem in Brazil. High rates of people who have never gone to school are not restricted to Northeastern Brazil, but also extend to such states as Amazonas and Pará, in Northern Brazil. The rates of school exclusion are always higher for males than for females. From a conceptual point of view, the notion of non-access must include not only the people who have never attended school, but also those who, even though in school age, are out of school.
Education; Schooling; School access; School exclusion; Brazil
