Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship
08/30/2012
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.
Problems with the electronic system of the funding program prevents students from completing contract renewals and institutions charge tuition of beneficiaries
The dream of studying medicine became a nightmare for Danilo Ferreira Leitao, 40, since June last year. At that time, the Paraiba who dropped out of the dental profession to resume study asked college transfer that had begun to study medicine. Beneficiary Program Student Financing (FIES), Danilo could not complete the transfer process - the right of every student who uses the program - through the site.
After almost 70 days, just finished the process through court injunction. Out of the Faculty of Medicine New Hope (Famene) in João Pessoa (PB) for Medical Sciences College of Campina Grande (PB), but difficulties with the funding continued. Since the second half of last year, he can not make additions (biannual renewals of contract) required by the program.
Danilo recorded hundreds of images of pages of errors on the internet that inform communication failures between the system and the bank's Fies responsible for the contract. Every renewal of registration, the college requires that he sign a document stating that if there is no transfer of financial resources from the government, he agrees to pay the accumulated debt by monthly in arrears because of renovations unrealized.
Letters of monthly billing in arrears also became common. The calls and e-mails sent to the National Fund for Education Development (ENDF), responsible for the operation of Fies since 2010, did not solve the problems of Danilo and, once again, he sought to remedy the pending Justice, afraid losing funding. In February, a judge granted an injunction for failure to be corrected under a penalty.
Danilo's case, according to the Ministry of Education, is rare. According to the coordinator of the ENDF Fies, Antonio Correa Neto, there are problems only in 0.2% of 531 000 active contracts in the program. The goal of new contracts for this year has passed. The expected close MEC 300 000 new loans in 2012 and the latest data show 302,000 assets. In 2011, 153 000 new students entered the program.
"Changes leveraged much Fies. Our problems today are punctual. In a program with so many institutions and students involved, it is impossible not to have a problem in either case. But each case must be assessed individually, "says the executive secretary of the MEC, José Henrique Paim Fernandes. Since 2010, interest rates were reduced funding, there are other possibilities as guarantor and the deadline for payment increased.
Local difficulties
According to the coordinator of Fies, Paraiba, many students had problems in the contract on behalf of an output not used by them to seek bail bondsman: students signed contracts in Rio Grande do Norte, where there was an injunction suspending the requirement of the guarantor. The electronic program checks the information provided by students, institutions and the bank before completing the renewal process.
As the sponsors of state institutions also have faculties in Paraíba, hiring in another state was released. With changes in the rules at the time of contract renewal, disputes arose. "We agreed with the prosecution agreements to release these contracts. Let's extend the time limits for amendments by December 31 this year and hopefully fix whatever fault there, "says Neto.
Georgianny de Mederios Praxedes, 22, and Pitagoras Maciel Camilo Sarmento, 23, paraibanos students are examples of students who face difficulties. Georgianny, 7th semester student of medicine, has 100% of financing fees, which amount to R$ 4500. Since the end of the second half, also fails to renew the contract. Already with three pending. The same number of late additions of Pitagoras.
"I received messages from ENDF saying that the deadline for amendment was winning and, if not resolved, I would have 'given up' the Fies. Justice sought, got the injunction, but my problem is still not resolved, "says Georgianny. "It's a big conflict, hinders my studies, I have insecurities anytime lose funding," he says.
Pitagoras also feels insecure. Law student, sought justice, but even with the decision in his favor in hand, the flaws in the system would not let him finish the registration. "It was a disappointment. Especially the lack of responses from the ENDF. And I am getting charges from college, "he says.
Paim, executive secretary of the Ministry of Education, ensures that colleges can not make charges because of problems in the system and that students will not be harmed. "Students should refer to problems FNDE by email or phone. Sometimes the answers are slow because there is need for verification of the problem, "he says. The difficulties faced by the ENDF the beginning of the operation of the program, he said, are being resolved.
The very institutions complained of delays in the transfer of funds due to participating institutions Fies. The deadline for granting credit for tax payments or repurchase these remaining credits by the government was only open once a year (the federal government "pays" institutions with tax rebates and other credits can be "sold" back to Union). Now, there is a monthly calendar of transfer, which is being followed to the letter, according to the ENDF.
Source: See On Line
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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.