Brazil"s universities take affirmative action

28 August 2013 Last updated at 18:53 ET By Julia Carneiro BBC Brasil, Rio de Janeiro Antonio Oliveira has benefited from the “quotas” in the first semester since the law came into effect Twenty-four-year-old Antonio Oliveira was born into a poor, mixed race family in the state of Maranhao in north-east Brazil.

As a teenager he had to balance his time between school and helping his parents harvest vegetables to sell at a farmer’s market, and doing other small jobs to scrape by.

Until recently, he says the only prospects for those growing up in his city, Colinas, were to work with crops or to get a post at the city hall – “a mediocre job that people think is heaven,” as he puts it.

But Antonio has just finished his first term studying Economic Sciences at Rio de Janeiro’s prestigious Federal University (UFRJ), a dream he had nurtured since his days at a rural public school.

His placement represents a radical change in the Brazilian university system.

Competition for places

A new law approved a year ago reserves 50% of spots in Brazil’s federal universities for students coming from public schools, low-income families and who are of African or indigenous descent.

Continue reading the main story

I hope I will get a good job after university and be able to give my parents more comfort as they grow old”

End Quote Antonio Oliveira Student The number of posts reserved for black, mixed race and indigenous students will vary according to the racial make-up of each Brazilian state.

Ten years ago affirmative action gradually started being adopted in both state and federally funded Brazilian universities, in an attempt to give underprivileged Brazilians better chances of getting free higher education – and thus access to better jobs.

Half of Brazil’s population is of African descent, but the country’s public universities tend to reflect the Brazilian upper classes – who are mostly white.

Although these universities are free, those who traditionally made it in usually came from expensive private schools. Students from public education – the majority of whom are black or mixed race – were less likely to secure one of the highly competitive places.

Now the “quotas” are mandatory in all of Brazil’s 59 federal universities, which have until 2016 to reserve half of their positions for affirmative action.

Controversial issue Antonio Freitas says the country is moving backwards with the quota policies

“I think this is a life-changing opportunity,” says Antonio. “I hope I will get a good job after university and be able to give my parents more comfort as they grow old.”

But racial quotas have sparked widespread controversy in Brazil. Many who are against them argue that easing access to higher education denies the principle of merit that brings excellence to universities.

“This is bad for the future of Brazil, because the main objective of universities is research, is to achieve quality,” says Antonio Freitas, provost of the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a prestigious private university.

“Eventually you may not have the most qualified people in engineering, in medical school, in the most challenging areas which Brazil needs to develop.”

Mr Freitas says Brazil is trying to solve a problem artificially. Instead of giving everyone good basic education, and thus conditions to compete as equals, the government is “trying to force students without preparation into university”.

Quota critics also argue that Brazil has never before had public policies based on race and that this establishes divisions in society. They say that promoting these policies would contradict Brazil’s national identity, where most of the population is mixed race.

Slavery legacy Continue reading the main story

Quota students have a new opportunity, and they grasp it and study like crazy”

End Quote Ricardo Vieiralves Rector, State University of Rio de Janeiro Before the Quotas Law was introduced for federal universities, the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ) was a pioneer of affirmative action.

After 10 years, rector Ricardo Vieiralves says their experience challenges critics’ arguments and says the quotas programme has been successful.

He says there are fewer dropouts among students admitted through quotas, and they are the ones who graduate the fastest.

“They have lower grades in the beginning but are level with the others by the middle of the course and sometimes excel non-quota students in the end.”

Mr Vieiralves says Brazil was unprepared for the abolition of slavery, which came to an end 125 years ago but its legacy has impacted generations of Brazilians of African descent and left deep racial inequality within the country’s society.

“Brazilian studies always showed that poor and black people did not make it into higher education. University was a place for the elites.

“Quota students have a new opportunity, and they grasp it and study like crazy,” says Mr Vieiralves.

Breaking expectations Continue reading the main story Brazil has almost 200 million residents, around half of whom are black or mixed raceIn 2012 the average income of a white worker in Brazil’s six main state capitals was 2,237 reias a month; for a person of African descent it was 1,255 reiasIn 1997, the rate of black or mixed race students aged 18-24 attending universities in Brazil was 2.2%. Last year it was 11%Since the Quotas Law was introduced, the number of posts reserved in federal universities for underprivileged Brazilians has doubled from 30,000 to 60,000

Sources: Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) and Group of Multidisciplinary Studies of Affirmative Action (IESP/UERJ)

In Brazil, poverty and a darker skin colour often coincide. On average, black or mixed race people earn little over half of what white Brazilians do.

Those of African descent spend on average two fewer years at school than the country’s white population. With less education, many African-Brazilians only manage to get basic jobs.

Joao Feres Jr, a political scientist at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, says it is “undeniable” that there is still racial discrimination in Brazil. He believes quotas are necessary not only to level inequalities but also to challenge expectations.

“You grow up in a society where you never see a black person in a position of power or high status, so you learn to associate black people [with] menial jobs, [with] low paid-jobs.

“Even people who are not actively prejudiced build up this kind of expectation,” he says. “I think the affirmative action breaks with that.”

University ‘gap’

But even as the university system tries to level the playing field, the Brazilian job market still largely reflects the white elite.

Less than 30% of Brazil’s employers are black or mixed race. But some companies are trying to change the make-up of their workforce.

IBM is one of them. Logistics procurement manager Warley Costa is in charge of a human resources group that aims to increase racial diversity at the company in Brazil.

Warley Costa, who is mixed race, is in charge of promoting racial diversity in IBM Brazil

But when the company announces job opportunities, only a small number of Afro-descendents come forward as candidates, he says.

“We see a gap on the university level. There is a small number of black people being prepared to go into university and to fill market positions that are open.”

The company liaises with universities, high schools and institutions linked to Brazilian black communities to attract and better prepare candidates.

“We are trying to support them in order to give them better conditions to fill the job opportunities we have open,” says Mr Costa.

He says the number of black or mixed race employees has been growing by about 3% a year in IBM Brazil, which employs close to 20,000 people.

“Today I can say that we are ok reflecting the Brazilian population inside our team. We have a big diversity here. We don’t have gaps. But we are trying to grow, as much as possible.”

You can hear more on this story on Business Daily on BBC World Service on Friday at 08:30 BST (07:30 GMT) and 15:00 BST (14:00 GMT).

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Brazil"s universities take affirmative action

Brazil"s new middle class demands more

14 July 2013 Last updated at 19:18 ET By Julia Carneiro BBC Brazil, Rio de Janeiro Brazil’s new middle class – celebrating and demonstrating Brazil’s so-called “new middle class” gained recognition worldwide as a symbol of upward mobility. But the wave of demonstrations that brought millions out on to the streets in June has exposed the thin line that separates this group from slipping back into poverty.

They had been planning the evening for more than a year. The groom waited anxiously in the fancy grey suit rented out for the ceremony; the bride arrived fashionably late in a shiny black car, with sparkles from her gown to her crown.

Francisco Oliveira and Taina Ferreira were married in a Catholic church close to Complexo da Mare, the shanty town where they live in Rio de Janeiro.

The proud groom is a 35-year-old construction worker kept busy in Brazil’s booming property business. He says the money spent on the fancy ceremony was worth every penny.

“It was her dream, and making her happy makes me so happy too,” he says.

Brazilians are spending 50% more on weddings than they did a decade ago

Like many in Brazil’s new middle class, Francisco and 23-year-old Taina can afford luxuries their parents did not have.

More buying power among the so-called Classe C has meant people have more access to appliances, electrical goods and travel opportunities – but also the possibility of getting married in style, something people here cherish.

In the past decade, Brazilians have increased their spending on weddings by more than 50%.

‘People want a say’

But in June, it became clear that having more access to goods and services was not enough.

Millions of Brazilians took to the streets in demonstrations that swept across the country during the Confederations Cup football tournament.

Julia Carneiro reports on Brazil’s middle class

The protesters had many concerns, ranging from corruption in public life to spending on hosting the World Cup and Olympics. Much of the anger was driven by middle-class demands.

People were asking for more investment in public services, demanding better public schools, hospitals and transportation.

“The people have awoken,” was one of the constant chants heard on the streets.

Jailson de Souza e Silva, who co-ordinates a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Mare known as the Favela Observatory, says newcomers to the Classe C have been celebrated as consumers but they are now making more demands as citizens.

“It’s great that people have more access to food and different goods. But people want to have a say in politics and a wider participation in decision-making.”

Three Brazilians among the thousands protesting in June

Mr Silva says the Brazilian government has historically distanced itself from the needs of society.

“The population feels that the state takes a lot and gives very little back. Taxes are very high, but the return in terms of investment in health, education, housing and security is still very low.”

Vladimir Safatle, a philosophy professor at the University of Sao Paulo, says there was a period of upward mobility during former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government, but now people feel this progress has stalled.

“We had a strong growth but we are not feeling a better quality of life. The middle class feels that its salaries are corroded by all the money they have to spend on private services, because public schools and hospitals are so poor.”

‘Basic needs’

Belonging to the middle class in Brazil is not what people may imagine in developed countries, says Renato Meirelles, director of research institute Data Popular.

Here, a family of four with a monthly income of more than $150 (£100) per person is considered part of this group.

“It seems low but the new middle class has seen its income improve a lot in the past few years,” says Mr Meirelles.

How the new middle class is changing the world

Of the 12 million people living in Brazil’s favelas – or shanty towns – more than 60% now belong to this middle class.

“Of course there is still a long way to go. People in this group still have very basic needs, for instance when it comes to education and proper sanitation.”

But Taina and Francisco are an example of a newer generation in Rio’s favelas that is more aware of the importance of education and do not feel trapped by the impoverished lives their parents led.

Taina is the first person in her family to go to university – she is a chemistry student at Rio’s Federal University.

Initially she dreamed of getting a stable job but now sees a wide range of opportunities – and her new husband Francisco wants to follow in her footsteps.

“Things are changing. Most of the people in my community now want to go to college. I think we’ve taken a big step forward,” she says.

First steps

After the religious ceremony, Francisco and Taina arrive, now together, at their wedding party.

It’s in a party venue in the working-class neighbourhood of Ramos, close to Mare. It’s modest but luxurious, with purple and white curtains hanging from the walls, matching flowers and drapery on the tables. The three-tiered wedding cake has a miniature bride and groom on top.

Francisco and Taina saved $4,000 for their wedding

The young couple saved $4,000 (£2,600) to throw this party and invited more than 100 friends and relatives. There is plenty of food, drink and even a folk dance, a tribute to Brazil’s traditional Festa Junina (June Festival) celebrations.

The men put on straw hats and line up in pairs with the women. The married couple duck down to scoot through a tunnel formed by the raised arms of their guests.

These are their first steps as a married couple but they have many ambitions for the future and a growing sense that the mobility which brought them into the new middle class needs to continue.

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Brazil"s new middle class demands more