A study reveals that one in four young individuals is encouraged to stay in high school due to the Pé-de-Meia program, which provides financial aid, although higher incentives yield diminishing returns.
A newly released study indicates that the Pé-de-Meia program, initiated by the federal government in Brazil, is effective in encouraging one in four youths to complete their high school education. This program provides financial incentives aimed at reducing dropout rates among students. However, the study also highlights that as the amount of financial aid increases, the marginal benefits become less significant; that is, raising existing scholarship amounts does not significantly boost student retention rates compared to what is already provided.
The research was conducted by the Center for Evidence in Comprehensive Education, formed through a collaboration of organizations including Insper, Instituto Sonho Grande, and Instituto Natura. Launched under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration in 2024, Pé-de-Meia was designed to address the pressing issue of school dropout rates in Brazil. The primary objective of the study is to assess the effectiveness of this and similar state programs in encouraging students to stay in school and identify potential areas for enhancement.
The findings will be available in the upcoming book "Bolsas de estudo e evasão: avaliação de impacto ex-ante," authored by Ricardo Paes de Barros, who played a pivotal role in formulating the program. With the book's release set for this Friday, October 13, it is expected to provide critical insights into the impact of scholarship programs on educational outcomes and inform future policy decisions aimed at reducing youth dropout rates.
