Higher education policies in brazil: A case of failure in market regulation

Abstract

This chapter deals with a case of failure in regulating a relatively small higher education system, one which is embedded in a still undereducated and unequal society. The first section presents the current regulatory framework and the two subsequent sections deal with the post-1996 developments by contrasting the different orientations that shaped the higher education sector with regard to expansion and market regulation, which also entails quality assurance policies. Section 2 deals with the 1995–2003 period under President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, which witnessed major efforts to couple expansion with the establishment of a quality-driven environment. Section 3 deals with the current Worker’s Party administrations and its continuous efforts to tighten the control over the private sector as well as to expand access, including to the public sector and to students from lower socioeconomic groups.