Universities are reviewing new admission methods and policies

Last month, the Government of the Brazilian State of Paraná issued a decree stating that the Prova Paraná Mais exam will now be accepted as an admission requirement for students from public education schools applying to the seven state universities. This decision was made after consultation with representatives from educational institutions, the Department of Education, and the Department of Science, Technology, and Higher Education.

Tássia Cruz, an education economist and professor at FGV EBAPE, believes that providing alternative pathways to access higher education can help alleviate the anxiety and stress experienced by students awaiting acceptance into undergraduate programs. This approach aims to lessen the reliance on a single exam.

While the Prova Paraná Mais has been used for several years to assess the quality of education at primary and secondary public schools, Tássia Cruz emphasizes the need to reformulate it to align with this new purpose.

Cruz emphasized that the exam used to evaluate the quality of education in public schools should be distinct from the exam used for university admission. She concludes: “It’s not just a matter of adding subjects; the format of the exam needs to be different. It has to effectively discern […] the skills expected from students seeking admission to higher education.”