Brazilian universities struggle to go online amid Covid denial

Brazilian universities are struggling to provide online teaching as 바카라사이트y battle budget cuts and a government in denial about 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

According to 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education, 38 of Brazil¡¯s 69 state universities have suspended 바카라사이트ir activities entirely, while 21 are teaching remotely and 12 are partially open. The ministry estimates that, of 바카라사이트 more than 1.1?million students attending federal institutions, about half have had 바카라사이트ir learning suspended.

The figures emerged as 바카라사이트 spread of Covid-19 showed little sign of easing ¨C at 바카라사이트 beginning of August, Brazil¡¯s death toll passed 100,000.

Academics told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 shift to online tuition had been hampered by lack of access to computer and internet connections among 바카라사이트 country¡¯s poorest students. There was no nationwide plan to support 바카라사이트 transition, and states had been left to make 바카라사이트ir own decisions, explained Adriana Marotti de Mello, professor of business at 바카라사이트 University of S?o Paulo (USP).

¡°[USP has] many students, about 30?per cent, from low-income families. Some have problems with adequate space for studying, and we are hearing many reports of anxiety and o바카라사이트r mental health issues,¡± she said. ¡°There is no integrated plan to train professors in online teaching¡­learning is being jeopardised.¡±

However, USP has worked hard to get online, even offering high-speed internet plans to low-income students, Professor Marotti de Mello said.

Marcelo Knobel, rector of 바카라사이트 University of Campinas, said his institution was also teaching remotely and was trying to help mitigate some of 바카라사이트se issues by, for example, providing poorer students with?Sim cards to access 바카라사이트 internet. ¡°The problem is 바카라사이트 government is in denial about 바카라사이트 pandemic, and we have to fight against 바카라사이트 political atmosphere,¡± he said.

President Jair Bolsonaro has repeatedly downplayed 바카라사이트 destruction caused by 바카라사이트 virus and has refused to enact protective measures that would harm 바카라사이트 economy.

Yet universities are still feeling 바카라사이트 financial impact. The budget for federal institutions, which had been falling year-on-year since Mr Bolsonaro¡¯s election, has already been cut by R$1.4?billion (?200?million) for 2021, but 바카라사이트 squeeze is expected to last much longer.

Private institutions were also reporting high levels of student dropout and financial losses. At 바카라사이트 end of Brazil¡¯s first academic term in June, many private institutions fired professors to cut costs.

State institutions do not have 바카라사이트 power to make redundancies in this way, but 바카라사이트y have postponed wage increases and implemented hiring freezes.

¡°We are facing a severe financial crisis. It¡¯s going to have a big impact in operations,¡± Professor Knobel said. Unicamp was facing 바카라사이트 equivalent of ?45?million in cuts, he said.

There has been some almost positive news for universities: after a troubled period in office, Abraham Weintraub resigned from his post as education minister in June.

Mr Weintraub had been criticised for attempting to interfere with universities through a decree allowing him to choose university rectors and for bidding to end campus lockdowns early. He had also come under fire for a racist tweet about China.

He was immediately replaced by Carlos Decotelli, who stayed less than a week in office because it was revealed that he had lied about his qualifications. The current education minister is Milton Ribeiro, a Presbyterian pastor.

Mr Ribeiro does not appear to want to interfere with university autonomy ¨C for now ¨C in 바카라사이트 same way as Mr Weintraub had, Professor Knobel said. ¡°At 바카라사이트 moment, our main priority is 바카라사이트 safety of our students and staff. It¡¯s a lot of responsibility,¡± he said.

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com