An investigation into the application of the additional bonus as a policy of affirmative action at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract

In recent decades emphasis has been given to the importance of investments in education for both individual and regional development. One significant way to develop greater human capital in a region is to place as many persons as possible in schools of all levels of formal education. Especially important among policies to foster this inclusion are affirmative actions in the area of education. Such policies, which include the Additional Bonus, as discussed in this article, aim at reducing the inequalities between different social groups, especially in the area of education, in the constant struggle against racial discrimination. In this article the authors discuss the application of the Additional Bonus for the college entrance exam for the Federal University of Minas Gerais and descriptively compare those individuals living in the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Area who are apt to enter higher education with those who are not. Those classified as apt were also compared with those who actually study at the university. Through simulations based on data from the National Enem Examination, the impacts that different policies of Additional Bonus would have was studied from the perspective of the insertion of persons of different ethnic groups and different family income levels. It was seen, for some factors, that this policy would not cause an impact at UFMG in terms of individuals with lower learning potential, although certain complementary policies should be implemented for other factors.