Justiça social escolar em tempos de neoliberalismo: uma análise multidisciplinar dos indicadores do programa PROUNI na democratização do acesso na educação superior privada em Curitiba

Abstract

This study presents a multidisciplinary analysis of the indicators of the Programa Universidade para Todos (PROUNI) within the context of the democratization of access to private higher education in Curitiba, under the influence of neoliberalism. The general objective was to analyze PROUNI’s indicators regarding the democratization of access to private higher education in the state of Paraná, with emphasis on the municipality of Curitiba, taking into account principles of social justice and the contradictions imposed by neoliberal logic. Specifically, the study: collected and analyzed data on PROUNI’s implementation in Paraná; assessed, using documentary sources and official indicators, the program’s effects on equitable access to higher education in private institutions with the largest number of beneficiaries; and interpreted the findings from the perspective of the Science, Technology and Society (STS) field. The methodology is based on qualitative analysis of secondary data from the Ministry of Education and the National Institute for Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira (INEP), covering 2005–2024, with focus on Paraná and Curitiba. The academic and social relevance of this research lies in its contribution to understanding the possibilities and limits of PROUNI as an instrument of educational inclusion within a neoliberal context, and in fostering debate on social justice in education and the democratization of private higher education. The results show that, although PROUNI significantly expanded access for low‑income students to private higher education, this expansion was concentrated in large institutions and in less selective courses, revealing limitations regarding equity, student retention, and formative quality.