Avaliação do Programa Universidade para Todos (Prouni) no município de Fortaleza/CE

Abstract

The object of evaluation of this research is the University for All Program (Prouni), which consists of a public policy to expand access to higher education in the country created in 2004 by the federal government. Prouni offers full and partial scholarships at private higher education institutions, in undergraduate and sequential specific training courses, to low income Brazilian students. In return, it offers exemption from some taxes to institutions that join the Program. The research has the general objective of evaluating how the implementation of Prouni developed, as a national public policy to expand access to higher education, at the local level of the city of Fortaleza, since the creation of the Program, in 2004, to the present day. To achieve the stipulated general objective, the research has the following specific objectives: (I) understand the formulation context and institutional trajectory of Prouni; (II) analyze the normative content of Prouni; and (III) analyze the perception of student beneficiaries of Prouni in Fortaleza in relation to the Program. Regarding the methodological procedures adopted, the present research, from the point of view of the way of approaching the problem, is predominantly qualitative in nature, with some quantitative contributions, and, in relation to its objectives, it is classified as exploratory and descriptive. Data collection techniques include bibliographic and documentary research and questionnaires applied to student beneficiaries of the Program in Fortaleza. The methodology used to analyze the collected data was Content Analysis, according to Bardin (2011), and the evaluative perspective adopted was In-Depth Evaluation, according to Rodrigues (2008). Throughout this research, it was possible to verify that, despite all the controversy and the political game of interests surrounding the creation of Prouni, the Program is configured as an important public policy for expanding access to higher education in the country. In the municipality of Fortaleza alone, the location of the research, the Program has already provided the opportunity to enter higher education for more than 55 thousand low-income students; and, consequently, the opportunity for these students to rise professionally and socially. It was also found that, even with the difficulties faced during their academic career, the beneficiaries recognize the importance of Prouni as a public policy that provides access to higher education for low-income people, unable to pay monthly fees, in institutions individuals.