Popular education, the expansion of higher education and a university for Latin American integration

ABSTRACT

The present article addresses the impact of two education policies initiated in Brazil during the government of Luís Inácio Lula da Silva (2003–2011): (1) the expansion of higher based on public higher education access from a countrywide perspective; and (2) low-income student maintenance in federal public education. In this context, we consider as a case study and point of reference the establishment of the Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana (UNILA) in Foz do Iguaçu. The article considers how these challenges can be faced so that real progress can be made in delivering quality education to everyone, based on the democratic, emancipatory and independent values championed by Paulo Freire.

O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar duas frentes da política educacional iniciada no governo de Luís Inácio Lula da Silva (2003–2011): (1) a de expansão universitária com base na perspectiva da democratização do acesso ao ensino superior público e sua interiorização; e (2) a de manutenção de estudantes de baixa renda no ensino público federal. Tomando como referência a Universidade Federal Latino-Americana (UNILA), instalada em Foz do Iguaçu (Brasil), abordaremos o impacto dessa política a partir de uma perspectiva freiriana, cujo caráter inclusivo, popular e anti-hegemônico estão fortemente marcados na formulação da mesma.

KEYWORDS:

• Popular education
• Brazilian university expansion
• interculturality
• regional integration
• public education

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Admission to higher education in Brazil can take place through selection procedures specific to an institution, involving an entrance examination (concurso), or through the Unified Selection System (SiSU) for school leavers who pass the National High School Examination (ENEM).

2 All translations of quotations are by the present author, unless otherwise stated.

3 Currently equivalent to approximately U$280.00.

4 Since 1940, the Brazilian census has classified the Brazilian population racially as indigenous, amarelo (Yellow), branco (White), pardo (Brown), and preto (Black).

5 For more specific information see https://portal.unila.edu.br/.

6 We might note that President Lula, who sanctioned the establishment of UNILA, also comes from the North-East of Brazil.

7 A transcript of the full speech is available at: https://www.gov.br/planalto/pt-br/acompanhe-o-planalto/discursos/2019/discurso-do-presidente-da-republica-jair-bolsonaro-durante-cerimonia-de-lancamento-do-programa-nacional-de-escolas-civico-militares-pecim

8 The text of the Bill can be found at: https://www.camara.leg.br/proposicoesWeb/prop_mostrarintegra;jsessionid=90F0F41838C6E595F1FD58F170E77E16.proposicoesWebExterno2?codteor=1726977&filename=PL±1930/2019

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Laura Janaina Dias Amato

Laura Janaina Dias Amato is associate professor at the University of Latin American Integration and associate researcher at the Latin American Center for Cultural Studies. Leader of the research group ‘Language, Politics and Citizenship’ and member of the ‘Interdisciplinary Studies Group: linguistic policies, diversity and borders’.