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USP scholarship recipients are facing problems with their scholarships. Find out why!
Students at the University of São Paulo (USP) experiencing vulnerability have access to the Student Retention and Development Support Program (PAPFE), an initiative of the Office of Inclusion and Belonging (PRIP).
However, PAPFE has undergone changes and, despite adding more than a thousand students to the list of beneficiaries, now totaling 15 thousand scholarship recipients, there are reports of difficulties in obtaining the benefit.
An important change occurred in the amount of the housing allowance, which increased from R$ 500 to R$ 800 per month. However, students entitled to a place at Crusp (USP Residential Complex) receive only R$ 300.
Students should receive R$ 800, but receive less than half
The situation of Rafael Pankratz, a student in the Graduate Program in Cultural Studies at EACH (School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities), translates into uncertainty that jeopardizes his continuation in the program.
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Since classes take place in the afternoon, Rafael cannot maintain a full-time job. This intensifies his dependence on the program's financial aid.
At first, Rafael believed that the aid would be extended to graduate students, which would guarantee him the financial security to continue his studies. However, so far, no call for applications for students at this level has been scheduled for publication.
Another student, who chose to remain anonymous, moved from the countryside to begin her course. She was counting on the program’s aid to settle into student housing and avoid depending on relatives for accommodation.
However, even after classes began, she did not appear on the first list of beneficiaries. This is a common complaint among freshmen, who feel as though they are being “punished”.
PRIP issues a statement to Jornal do Campus (JC)
PRIP’s statement clarifies that the changes to PAPFE were intended to improve the university’s existing student retention policies. The idea was to create a more effective and comprehensive system to meet the needs of students in situations of economic vulnerability.
By referring to PAPFE’s “unified policies,” PRIP indicates that it standardized and integrated the criteria and procedures for applying for aid.
In other words, students can apply for the aid only once for the entire undergraduate period. However, in reality, even after applying for the aid, students are still not receiving it.
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