Irene Lôbo and Juliana Cézar Nunes
Reporters - Agência Brasil

Brasília - At least 95 thousand low-income students will have the opportunity to enter universities in 2005. This is the number so far selected by the University for All Program (ProUni). The bill was signed yesterday (13) by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This year the program will offer a total of 112.4 thousand scholarships in private and philanthropic institutions of higher education.

In his speech, President Lula called upon the new university members to reveal the difficulties they encounter and help to perfect the system, in order to enable more students from the country's poorest regions to have access to higher education.

To sign up for the ProUni, students must have obtained their secondary education either at public high schools or as full-scholarship students at private institutions. If they are seeking a full scholarship, their family's per capita monthly income should not surpass one and a half minimum wages, the equivalent of US$ 144 (R$ 390).

Translation: David Silberstein