In his recent meeting with the presidents of public universities, President Lula reminded them of what many forget: the social nature of FIES. Since 1999, the federal government’s student loan program has enabled millions of low-income students to gain access to higher education, fulfilling their dream of an education that opens the door to skilled employment and a better quality of life.

With his keen insight and by giving due priority to the inequalities that plague our society, the president emphasized that student loans should not be judged solely by graduates’ potential difficulty in repaying them—often caused by a lack of job opportunities—but rather by their role in promoting long-term economic growth, with higher incomes, greater productivity, and, consequently, increased tax revenue.

Education is a constitutional obligation and an excellent investment for the government, whether it is used to improve infrastructure at public universities or to provide more FIES scholarships at private universities. These institutions account for more than 80% of all undergraduate students across a wide range of fields of study, and they are also the fastest and most efficient means of expanding access to professional training and promoting the social inclusion of young people.

The diversity of Brazilian higher education is a source of pride, as it offers families a wide range of options for choosing the best education for their children. Far from a one-size-fits-all model for higher education, we have built an innovative and multifaceted model, both through our geographically widespread presence across the country and through the flexibility of our distance learning offerings.

It is undeniable that the current system requires improvements, particularly in terms of enhancing the quality of education, encouraging curricular innovation—in line with trends in the world of work—and expanding career paths in high-demand fields that are critical to the (re)building of Brazil’s present and future. During his meeting with university presidents, President Lula highlighted two such fields: medicine and engineering.

I would also add the importance of information technology education. Recent studies indicate a shortage of nearly 800,000 qualified professionals, a number that is likely to grow. Undoubtedly, these are areas where the government should encourage new initiatives that are both high-quality and accessible.

If the market demands so many qualified professionals, it is the responsibility of institutions of higher education to train them, and it is the responsibility of the government to spare no effort in helping students gain access to and remain in their programs until graduation. Student financial aid is one of the central elements of this public policy model.

Both President Lula and Education Minister Camilo Santana have expressed concern and outlined measures aimed at enhancing the value of higher education. The Forum of Representative Entities of Private Higher Education advocates for changes to the FIES rules, including linking post-graduation payments to the graduate’s income and including spots for distance learning courses.

We also advocate for differentiated treatment for high-quality programs in fields where recent graduates have the best employment prospects and, consequently, a low risk of default. In addition, we call for continued attention to teacher-training programs, with a view to providing the necessary (and urgent) reinforcement in the training of elementary and secondary school teachers, including training in new digital skills. 

Without government support, how else will thousands of low-income students be able to invest in their own education? Education has been proven to be the path to social inclusion and can no longer be neglected.

This task is not the sole responsibility of the presidential office or the minister. That is why the Forum stands ready for dialogue, actively collaborating in the development of inclusive and efficient public policies. Working side by side, public and private institutions can promote the recovery of Brazilian higher education, which has been so severely shaken by successive economic crises, the pandemic, and a lack of investment. We want a new FIES for a new era.

 

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*This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bett Brasil.