Brazil to Launch "Pé-de-Meia" Savings Program for University Students in 2027
Listen to the story
The Brazilian government is preparing to extend its Pé-de-Meia program to university students starting in 2027.
Pé-de-Meia is a financial support program that currently helps students stay in school by giving them money.
The new version will focus on students who are registered in CadÚnico, Brazil's official registry for low-income families.
This expansion aims to support students who want to continue their education after finishing high school.
Many students from poor families leave school early because they need to work and earn money for their families.
By offering financial help during university studies, the government hopes more students will be able to complete their degrees.
The program's goal is to reduce the financial barriers that stop many young Brazilians from pursuing higher education.
Although the program will not begin until 2027, officials are already working on the rules and details of how it will function.
This change represents an expansion of a program that already supports students at earlier levels of education.
Further information about payment amounts, eligibility requirements, and application procedures is expected to be released before the program begins.
Vocabulary7 words
- Pé-de-Meia
- a government program that gives money to students
- university
- a school for study after high school
- CadÚnico
- an official list of low-income families in Brazil
- registry
- an official list or record
- expansion
- making something bigger or reach more people
- eligibility
- the rules for who can join something
- barriers
- things that stop you from doing something
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Quiz
Answer key
1. It will now include university students 2. Students registered in CadÚnico 3. To reduce financial barriers for low-income students
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The Brazilian government is preparing to extend its Pé-de-Meia program to _____ students starting in 2027.
Pé-de-Meia is a financial support program that currently helps students stay in _____.
The new version will focus on students who are registered in _____.
This expansion aims to support students who want to continue their _____ after finishing high school.
Many students from poor families leave school early because they need to _____ for their families.
By offering financial help during university studies, the government hopes more students will _____ their degrees.
The program's goal is to reduce the financial _____ that stop many young Brazilians from pursuing higher education.
Officials are already working on the rules and details of how it will _____.
This change represents an _____ of a program that already supports students at earlier levels.
Further information about payment amounts and _____ requirements is expected before the program begins.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think the government is expanding Pé-de-Meia to university students?
- What challenges do low-income students face when trying to attend university?
- Do you think financial support programs like this are effective? Why or why not?
- What other kinds of support might help students stay in higher education?
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