Alberto de Mello e Souza

Higher Education in Brazil: Recent Evolution and Current Issues.

The evolution of higher education in Brazil is described and proposals for its reform analysed. Enrollment growth in the 1970s favoured private institutions and most of the expansion was absorbed by private non-university establishments. The article next examines the financing of higher education in Brazil before turning to efficiency and equity issues. To improve the latter more students from low-income families must complete secondary education and have access to good-quality subsidized higher education. A system of loans and of scholarships for the needy is suggested for a system in which the inequity problems at higher education are a consequence of inefficiencies at the basic education level.