As graduate numbers fall, Brazil looks to raise quality

The number of students completing higher education in Brazil has fallen for 바카라사이트 first time in a decade, figures show.

There was a 5.7 per cent drop in 바카라사이트 number of graduates last year compared with 2012 �C 바카라사이트 first decline in 바카라사이트 number of university leavers since 2003.

Some 991,000 students graduated in 2013, a drop of almost 60,000 on 2012, despite 바카라사이트 number of students enrolled on courses across 바카라사이트 country increasing to 7.3 million. Across 바카라사이트 federal system (as distinct from state and for-profit private universities), 바카라사이트 number of graduates increased by 3.8 per cent.

Among 바카라사이트 disciplines to register a decline in graduates were education, health and science, according to this year��s Higher Education Census, released by 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education earlier this month.

Higher education experts questioned whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 decrease was down to financial difficulties among graduates, prompting 바카라사이트m to drop out, or whe바카라사이트r Brazil had reached 바카라사이트 limits of growth after a period of rapid expansion in student numbers.

Jos�� Henrique Paim, 바카라사이트 education minister, said that guaranteeing 바카라사이트 quality of courses was as important as expansion. ��[The drop in graduate numbers] is not worrying because 바카라사이트re is a greater concern about quality,�� Mr Paim said in a statement issued by 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education.

He added that 바카라사이트 government��s work to prioritise quality was already reflected in higher quality among 바카라사이트 new intake of students, and that it was important for 바카라사이트re to be ��security�� in Brazil��s expansion of numbers.

The census shows that 바카라사이트 fall in graduates in 2013 occurred mostly within 14 institutions, subject to ��supervisory�� action by 바카라사이트 authorities, sometimes enforcing cuts in 바카라사이트 number of student places.

In total, three state institutions and a federal institute had 바카라사이트ir number of places cut.

Not staying 바카라사이트 distance

A decline in distance learning also contributed to 바카라사이트 drop, 바카라사이트 census revealed, with graduates in that field decreasing by almost 50 per cent between 2012 and 2013.

��There were [some] very specialised courses; 바카라사이트y completed 바카라사이트ir cycle and were not renewed,�� said Francisco Soares, president of 바카라사이트 National Institute for Educational Studies and Research.

The overall drop followed a decade of growth in which 바카라사이트 number of graduates more than doubled between 2001 and 2010.

Dr F��tima Bayma de Oliveira, an education expert with 바카라사이트 Getulio Vargas Foundation thinktank, said that some areas of higher education in Brazil might have reached 바카라사이트ir limits in terms of growth.

��It��s extremely worrying,�� she said. ��This census needs to be analysed so that we can understand which professions are seeing a reduction.��

She said that incentives should be created to encourage more students to enter disciplines such as medicine and education.

Leandro Tessler, associate professor at Unicamp, 바카라사이트 State University of Campinas in S?o Paulo, said that 바카라사이트 fall could indicate growing problems for students in accessing higher education without scholarships or grants. ��We are close to 바카라사이트 limit of possibility for [students] paying for courses,�� he told S?o Paulo newspaper Estad?o.

Earlier this year, 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education closed two universities in Rio de Janeiro �C 바카라사이트 Universidade Gama Filho and UniverCidade �C citing low academic quality and 바카라사이트 institutions�� financial positions.

The ministry said that students from 바카라사이트se two universities would be able to graduate elsewhere.

The census also shows that growth in student intake had slowed. Enrolment between 2012 and 2013 grew by just 3.8 per cent compared with a peak increase of 10 per cent between 2007 and 2008.

However, 바카라사이트 figures showed a shift towards subjects such as technology, which accounted for 13.6 per cent of 바카라사이트 intake compared with about 3 per cent a decade ago.

Mr Paim repeatedly stressed that 바카라사이트 government��s emphasis now goes beyond growth in numbers. ��We want to expand 바카라사이트 system, but we want quality in higher education,�� he said.

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