Impact Evaluation of the Student Permanence Program of the Universidade Federal de São Paulo

Abstract

The Student Aid Program (Pape) of the Universidade Federal de São Paulo is designed to assist students with a per capita family income of up to 1.5 minimum wages to guarantee their stay in the university. The resources come from the National Program of Student Assistance (Pnaes). The article analyzes the efficiency of Pape and the possible impacts on academic performance. To do so, the evasion and the coefficients of academic achievement between Pape participants and non-participants with the same income profile were compared. The results show that among Pape participants the percentage of evaders is lower and the coefficient of performance is larger and less dispersed. We conclude that the program has been efficacious to ensure the permanence of vulnerable students and to promote conditions of better academic performance, but to preserve it, it is necessary to expand its resources and transform the Pnaes into State policy.

Evaluation of Public Policies; Pnaes; Student Stay; Academic Achievement; Higher Education