Brazil's student financial support programme to attract 1.2 million more students

Originally designed for Bolsa Familia recipients, the Pe-de-Meia programme has already reached more than 2.4 million students. The expansion of the programme will now also include family members on the Single Registry of Social Programmes (CadUnico).

The programme had a budget of R$7.1 billion (US$1,4 billion) annually, but with the expansion it will be allocated an additional R$3 billion per year. The programme establishes an incentive payment of R$3,000 (US$584,5 million) per year per student, an amount that could reach R$9,200 (US$1793) for three years of high school. This is reported by RedeTV, a partner of TV BRICS.

The decision was included in the temporary measure to create the Acredita programme, which was signed by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The Pe-de-Meia programme aims to reduce social inequality among high school students by encouraging them to stay in the educational system.

To receive, students must be regularly enrolled in a public high school, be between 14 and 24 years old and belong to families registered in CadUnico. The money will be credited to digital accounts automatically.

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