Brasília, October 14, 2002 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - A total of 3,209 people have registered for the Brazilian General Education Exams this year, up 9.8% from 2001. 2,106 are registered for the high school equivalency test, up 17%, and 1.103 for elementary school equivalency, down 3%.

The people taking the test are Brazilians temporarily working in Japan, or their children. The tests will be on November 9 and 10, under the auspices of the Ministries of Education and Foreign Relations. Taking the tests making things easier for these people when they return to Brazil.

The Brazilian population in Japan, 240,000 strong, is the largest abroad, after the US and Paraguay. It is estimated that some 40,000 of them are of school age. (AB)