NGOs sue Colégio Porto Seguro for separating scholarship students from paying studentsDisclosure
Published 04/18/2024 22:53 | Updated 04/18/2024 22:56
The entities Educafro, the National Association of Centers for the Defense of Children and Adolescents (Anced) and Ponteduca accuse Colégio Porto Seguro of segregating scholarship students from paying students. In a public civil action filed this week, the entities demand racial equity measures and ask for compensation of R$15 million in moral and collective damages.
The private school, one of the most traditional in São Paulo, denies the accusations. “There is no discrimination or difference in the treatment of students, with an internationally recognized pedagogical proposal of excellence being offered on all four campuses of the school, with qualified teaching staff.”
In the action, the NGOs claim that scholarship students study in a separate unit (Vila Andrade) from paying students (Morumbi), both in the south of São Paulo. The school says that “with the expansion of after-school classes, limited space was the reason for the students’ change of location.”
Even depending on the entities, there are differences in structure. The Morumbi unit has a sports area, athletics track, gym, parks, patios, a 20,000 m² forest, and a small farm. The Vila Andrade unit only has a sports court.
“Poor students, who depend on scholarships, have to go to second-class schools. Rich students go to first-class schools”, says Franciscan priest David dos Santos, Frei David, general director of the NGO Educafro, which helps poor young people, especially black people, entering universities in the country.
Gilson Rodrigues, community leader from Paraisópolis, disagrees with the action. The region benefits from the Escola da Comunidade, the school’s Vila Andrade campus, which offers regular education and education for young people and adults.
“I don’t agree with the accusation of segregation. The opinion of some cannot be generalized,” he says.
In a statement to students’ parents this Thursday, the 18th, the school management said that the creation of the Vila Andrade campus arose from the desire to increase the number of scholarships and the lack of physical space at the Morumbi unit.
The entities also claim that scholarship students would be prohibited from entering the facilities of paying units without prior authorization. The school alleges security concerns.
“Restricting the movement of students, parents and guardians is a security rule valid between all units. Access to facilities is controlled and permitted only to students with identification from the respective unit. The internal movement of students from other units, as well as teachers, staff and visitors, is authorized as long as there is a purpose in itself”, informed the college.
In the action, the three entities also state that the curricula and extracurricular activities are different and that scholarship holders would not have access to the bilingual curriculum, available to paying students.
The school, again, denies it. “All students have a modern, diverse and multicultural learning journey based on: fundamental concepts in each area of knowledge, skills and competencies; English and German languages; global connections; sustainability; socio-emotional intelligence and digital education”, informed the school .
Also according to Porto Seguro, the Vila Andrade unit has a maker laboratory, music and dance studios, theater, among other structures.
NGOs did not consult us, says community leader
“The institutions (authors of the action) should have consulted the community before filing the action”, says the president of G10 Favelas, an association that brings together the ten largest Brazilian favelas.
Gilson Rodrigues states that building the school was a dream of the community and elite institutions help to make up for the absence of the State. “It was a six-year struggle,” he says.
According to the school, in 2023 the Vila Andrade campus had 177 approvals in entrance exams at public and private universities and abroad.
Law provides tax relief for those who give scholarships
Representatives of the organizations also allege that the school violates federal legislation regarding the Social Assistance Benevolent Entity Certificate (Cebas), granted by the Ministry of Education.
The granting of scholarships allows the school to receive tax relief upon obtaining the certificate. Law 11791/2023 regulates the activities of certified entities in the areas of education, health and social assistance.
“Any discrimination or difference in treatment between scholarship and paying students is prohibited”, states lawyer Elma Cristina, from the National Association of Cedecas (Anced), signatory of the action.
