In Brasília, quilombolas and indigenous people claim policies to remain in universities

The 1st National Forum of Indigenous and Quilombola Higher Education Students takes place until Friday, 8th (Regis Guajajara)

October 8, 2021

10:10

Cassandra Castro – from Cenarium

BRASILIA – After a walk through the Ministries Esplanade to the headquarters of the Ministry of Education (MEC), in Brasilia, more than 700 indigenous and quilombola students, from 50 public and private universities, went to the front of the Planalto Palace, on Thursday, 7, in mobilization for the right to study. The university students have been participating, since the beginning of the week, in the 1st National Forum of Indigenous and Quilombola Higher Education Students in the federal capital. The Forum will take place until this Friday, the 8th.

During their gathering in front of MEC’s headquarters, the students held a “class” in which several of them had the chance to present what is produced by them inside their universities and colleges. The symbolic class aimed to make the authorities aware of the difficulties faced by students in Higher Education institutions.

The presence of quilombola and indigenous representatives in the federal capital also allowed them to participate in agendas directly related to the students’ demands, as was the case of the joint public hearing held by the Education and Participative Legislation Committees of the House of Representatives, on Tuesday 5.

Read also: public hearing discusses student aid for indigenous and quilombola students

Meeting

During the meeting, students and indigenous and quilombola leaders talked about the main problems faced by the access and permanence of these young people from traditional populations in Higher Education institutions. One of the main claims of the university students is the solution to obstacles such as the continuity of the permanence program for these students. They allege that the permanence scholarship system has been closed for two years and the funds granted, of R$ 900, are not being paid to the students.