PROUNI: uma política de democratização do ensino superior?

• Ano de defesa: 2011
• Autor(a) principal: Martins, Raisa Maria de Arruda
• Orientador(a): Ribeiro, Maria das Graças Marcelo
• Banca de defesa: Martins, André Silva
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Tipo de acesso: Acesso aberto
• Idioma: por
• Instituição de defesa: Universidade Federal de Viçosa
• Programa de Pós-Graduação: Mestrado em Educação
• Departamento: Educação, estado e sociedade; formação de professores e práticas educativas
• País: BR
• Palavras-chave em Português: Ensino superior; PROUNI; Democratização do Ensino Superior
• Palavras-chave em Inglês: Higher education; PROUNI; Democratização do Ensino Superior
• Área do conhecimento CNPq: CNPQ::CIENCIAS HUMANAS::EDUCACAO
• Link de acesso: http://locus.ufv.br/handle/123456789/3421

The enlargement of the access to Higher education in Brazil has been discussed in political and academic circles. There has been great expansion in Higher Education in the last 20 years in Brazil, especially in the private sector. Throughout the government of president Fernando Henrique Cardoso (1995-2002), the private sector was the main responsible for the creation of new institutions as well as the creation and increase in the number of majors and vacancies when compared to the public sector. During the government of president Lula (2003-2010), the priveleges given to the private sector when it comes to access to High Education was based on an explicit formalization policy. Under the current government, the enlargement of the private sector exacerbates itself when in 2005 the PROUNI (Program University for All) was created. Such program justified its existence on the need to raise the level of education. This need is a consequence of Brazil‟s ranking in the international statistics of education. In addition, it would result in a public policy which would not generate expenses for the government since the Higher Education private institutions would be immune to paying taxes in exchange for enlarging access to their classrooms. The PROUNI is announced as the precursor of the Higher Education democratization. This study aimed to analyze PROUNI as a program which seeks to promote the democratization of Higher education and social justice. Four private institutions of Higher Education located in the city of Belo Horizonte MG were considered. This piece of research was carried out through interviews. The students currently on the program and the headmasters of each institution were interviewed. Documental data from the referred institutions were also considered. Private institutions must have a minimum number of students in the classroom in order for it to exist and even majors must have a minimum number of students. In this sense, PROUNI is fundamental for the survival of private institutions since the students on the program fill in the spots which were not filled by paying students. It could also be observed that despite not having to pay tuition the students currently on the program face several difficulties. These can be financial or even academic and may cause students to drop out. The existence of students enrolled in majors which have social prestige and in highly ranked institutions was identified. The criteria for the ranking of these institutions are defined by the Ministério da Educação (MEC). However, this conclusion is not true for the whole national territory. Finally, it can be considered that the PROUNI is a program which benefits and contributes to the growth of private Higher education institutions. It is thought that the ideal democratization cannot be accomplished through the PROUNI, except for quantitative aspects. The latter can be characterized more as an opportunity of access rather than a real chance of endurance.