Brazil’s "Blue Curriculum" Wins Prestigious Public Spirit Award

Building on its historic commitment to become the first country recognized by UNESCO as implementing ocean literacy in its national curriculum, Brazil’s "Currículo Azul" has been recognized as one of the most transformative educational projects in the country.

In a significant milestone for global ocean literacy, Brazil’s pioneering "Blue Curriculum" (Currículo Azul) has been named the winner of the Prêmio Espírito Público 2025 (Public Spirit Award) in the Education category.

This recognition follows the historic announcement made in April, when Brazil became the first country in the world to commit to a national school curriculum on Ocean Literacy. The project, a collaboration between the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) via the Maré de Ciência program, UNESCO, and the Brazilian Ministry of Education, was designed to integrate the ocean into the fabric of the national educational system.

A Recognition of Public Impact

The Prêmio Espírito Público is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious honors for public service in Brazil. Now in its seventh edition, the award celebrates projects and public servants who are actively transforming society in areas such as health, security, and education.

The "Blue Curriculum" stood out among hundreds of initiatives. It was voted into the top five projects by public vote, demonstrating strong community support, and was ultimately selected as the winner in the Education category by a high-level group of experts. The jury praised the initiative for its innovative approach: rather than a pre-packaged set of lessons, the Blue Curriculum empowers schools to co-construct their learning pathways, adapting global ocean challenges to local realities, whether coastal or inland.

A Victory for Ocean Literacy

Ronaldo Christofoletti, Professor at UNIFESP and co-chair of the UNESCO Group of Experts on Ocean Literacy, accepted the award on behalf of the diverse coalition of educators, scientists, and policymakers driving the project. In a message to the international community, Professor Christofoletti emphasized that this award belongs to everyone working to strengthen the relationship between society and the ocean.

 Watch the full message from Ronaldo Christofoletti:

Ronaldo Christofoletti celebrates the victory of the Blue Curriculum at the Prêmio Espírito Público 2025

 A Model for the World

This award serves as a powerful validation of the Blue Curriculum model as it moves from commitment to implementation. By bridging the gap between scientific knowledge and school governance, Brazil is demonstrating how public policy can effectively champion sustainability.

As the Blue Curriculum continues to roll out across Brazilian schools, this recognition by the Prêmio Espírito Público offers inspiration to educators around the world who working to bridge the gap between the ocean and the classroom, and confirmation that Ocean Literacy should be a central pillar of quality education and social transformation.