Is the word educação the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?

Yes

The word "educação" is identical in meaning, spelling, and grammar in both Brazilian and Continental Portuguese. The only difference lies in pronunciation.

In Brazilian Portuguese, the vowels are generally more "open" and clearly articulated. The nasal diphthong "-ção" is pronounced with a strong, resonant nasal sound. In Continental Portuguese, the vowels are much more "closed" or reduced. Speakers in Portugal often "swallow" unstressed vowels, meaning the "o" in "educação" might be very short or almost silent, and the overall rhythm of the word is more clipped compared to the melodic, elongated pronunciation found in Brazil.

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

1. A educação é a base de tudo. (Education is the foundation of everything.)
2. Ele não tem educação nenhuma! (He has no manners at all!)
3. O governo precisa investir mais em educação. (The government needs to invest more in education.)
4. Ter educação é essencial para conviver em sociedade. (Having manners is essential for living in society.)
5. A nossa educação foi baseada em livros clássicos. (Our education was based on classic books.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

1. A educação é a base de tudo. (Education is the foundation of everything.)
2. Ele não tem educação nenhuma! (He has no manners at all!)
3. O governo precisa de investir mais em educação. (The government needs to invest more in education. — Note: Portuguese speakers typically use "precisa de" whereas Brazilians often omit the "de".)
4. Não tenhas educação para falar assim! (Don't have the manners to speak like that! — Note: Uses the "tu" conjugation common in Portugal.)
5. A educação está a passar por grandes mudanças. (Education is undergoing great changes. — Note: Uses the "está a + infinitive" construction typical of Portugal, instead of the Brazilian gerund "está passando".)