Linking School Attendance to Welfare Payments

UN numbers show that the number of children attending school has increased dramatically. In 1991, just 15% of the children eligible for secondary school turned up. By 2003 that has grown to 75% and to make sure that this trend continues, the president of

Housing Problems for the Poor in Sao Paolo, Brazil Host: The pressure of the urban housing movement is having its effect on the authorities. The 84 families who occupied this building nearby have just been given possession. With the help of a Federal government loan, it’s been completely restored and the occupiers have become co-owners. Female: We fought for two years while the negotiations went on with the Federal authorities. In the end, we won and the building was sold to us with the help of a loan. Host: But there’s a catch, to pay the loan on the building, they have to be earning at least three times the minimum wage, that’s roughly $390.00 a month. Only 10% of people in the housing movement can afford it. It’s certainly well beyond what Pedro can afford. Pedro: The colors, the excluded ones, all of us who live in the favelas, we all dream about having a house so I make them and one day, who knows. Host: Just outside the walls of favela Coliseu is one of Sao Paulo’s favorite night spots. In the shadow of the Daslu Department store, the rich kids go to clubs while the poor ones go to work. 13-year old Barbara sells sweets on the street. Barbara: I work to help my mom out because she is an employee and she needs help, it’s hard but I try my best. Host: Barbara’s 16-year old brother Oswaldo has already given up on school and works as a parking attendant on the same street. Oswaldo: Future? I don’t see a future. I stopped school very early. Host: Barbara is regarded as bright, but because she has to work, she constantly fails her course work. One expert says there’s still a long way to go before the quality of schooling is improved. Marci Pochman: Nowadays, we need a revolution in education. It will be similar to the abolishment of slavery in terms of the opportunities, equality, and getting a sense to good jobs and a better quality of life. Host: That revolution may well have started. UN figures shows the number of children attending school has increased dramatically. 1991, just 15% of the children eligible for secondary school turned up. By 2003, that had grown to 75%. To make the trend continues Lula has linked school attendance to family welfare payments. You only get your welfare payment if your child has a full school attendance register. So welfare payments have doubled in the last year and a half. 3.6 million Families were on welfare in December 2003. By July 2005, it was 7.5. Patrus Ananias: For the first time in our history, President Lula has prioritized poverty or education. We are integrated family programs and eradicating child labor, and we are bringing into the fold all these people who have been historically excluded. Host: But former ministers say Lula’s done little for education and he’s riding on the achievements of the previous administration. Luis Mendonca de Barros: The rulers directing educations is very, very poor because you know that the former president changed a lot, the education, the public education system in Brazil and increased sharply the number of Brazilians going to the school. But the former government starts from the bottom. They start from the basic education and the ruler ought to start dealing with the medium level education and they didn’t. The ruler record in education it’s - the government keep the old programs inherited for the former government.