Open AccessThe growth of private higher education in Brazil: implications for issues of equity, quality and public benefit
Author(s) -
Tristan McCowan
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
education policy analysis archives
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.727
H-Index - 46
ISSN - 1068-2341
DOI - 10.14507/epaa.v13n27.2005
Subject(s) - subsidy , equity (law) , higher education , government (linguistics) , inequality , competition (biology) , business , investment (military) , economic growth , economics , public service , public economics , quality (philosophy) , politics , public administration , political science , market economy , mathematical analysis , ecology , linguistics , philosophy , mathematics , law , biology , epistemology
There has been a dramatic growth in private higher education in Brazil in recent years. The World Bank has promoted this expansion on the basis of the private providers" ability to ensure a rapid increase in enrolment, to improve quality through competition between institutions, and to secure benefits for society at little public cost. However, the charging of fees means that the majority of Brazilians do not have access, and that inequalities are reproduced due to the relation between course costs and the value of the final diploma. Equitable access is, therefore, far from being achieved and is unlikely even with an increase in student loans and government subsidies. The contribution of private universities to the long-term development of society is seen to be limited due to lack of investment in research and community service.