Brasília, 4/6/2004 (Agência Brasil) - The government's program to expand university enrollment, "University for All" (''Universidade para Todos") will include quotas for Blacks. The program already requires that 20% of admissions be for poor students.

According to minister of Education, Tarso Genro, an exact percentage has not been established. "We are working out the details with the minister of Racial Equality (Matilde Ribeiro) and the presidential Chief of Staff (José Dirceu)," he said, adding that the result would be a new reality in Brazilian universities with students from low-income families, Blacks and descendents of Afro-Brazilians getting a chance.

Genro said he did not fear a reaction by the average, conservative segment of society, or a rash of lawsuits. He declared some people would not be satisfied, but that was always the result of "bold actions like this one." (Translator: Allen Bennett)