Rapid Diagnostics of School Infrastructure in Rio Grande do Sul

Overview & Synopsis

The report presents a rapid diagnostic of school infrastructure in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, developed in the aftermath of the severe floods that affected the state in 2024. Conducted under the World Bank’s Roadmap for Safer and Resilient Schools framework, the assessment reviews the current condition of the state school network and examines the institutional, regulatory, construction, and financing environments that shape school infrastructure development and maintenance. The analysis covers the 2,320 schools managed by the State Secretariat of Education (SEDUC-RS) and is intended to support the integration of climate resilience and disaster risk reduction considerations into future infrastructure investments and planning processes. The study combines desk-based analysis, field inspections, stakeholder consultations, and geospatial assessments. Field visits to selected schools provided information on building typologies, structural conditions, accessibility, environmental performance, maintenance needs, and the impacts of recent disasters. In parallel, a climate susceptibility assessment was conducted to evaluate schools’ potential exposure to flooding, extreme heat, drought, extreme winds, and landslides under current and future climate scenarios. Results indicate increasing climate-related pressures on school infrastructure, particularly from flooding and extreme heat, and highlight the need for improved planning tools, building-level information systems, and risk-informed decision-making. The report also reviews the governance arrangements, technical standards, construction practices, and financing mechanisms that support school infrastructure in Rio Grande do Sul. The findings provide a foundation for future risk and resilience assessments and offer practical recommendations to support the development of safer, more resilient, and climate-adaptive schools in Rio Grande do Sul.