A educação superior brasileira: Dilemas, desafios e comparações com os países da OCDE e do BRICS

Abstract

This study presents an analysis of a set of dilemmas and challenges for higher education in Brazil related to the following topics: privatization; net and gross schooling rates; socioeconomic limits to both public and private growth; applicants/vacancy relation; unfulfilled vacancies; financial support within the context of the new Plano Nacional de Educação (PNE); and comparisons amongst different Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and BRICS countries (Brazil, Russian, Indian, China and South Africa). The results analysis reveals that, in general terms, Brazil faces big challenges when compared to OECD countries. We can conclude that it will be possible to achieve OECD parameters when three effects occur simultaneously: stability of child and young population at school age growth of the country and of the gross domestic product (GDP) within the context of world capitalism; and the decrease of social inequalities.