In a last minute move yesterday, President Bolsonaro’s administration blocked new education grants destined for students in graduate programs. Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES) administers the funds.
According to program administrators, the government pulled unused funds that were connected to the Ministry of Education.
The education grants were destined for students who had recently been approved, and students who were in the process of being approved for the funds.
The cuts surprised universities and will affect areas in the humanities, as well as those related to sciences. Education minister Abraham Weintraub said that the humanities are not a priority for public investment.
The only criteria used to cut the grants was whether or not a person had received payment in April. Institutions and researchers received no notice about this, however.
In a letter sent Wednesday afternoon to the Deans of Graduate school, and obtained by Folha, CAPES said that the decision to cut the funding was made on May 3 by the executive director. Anderson Ribeiro Correia, president of CAPES, signed the letter.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon