FIES 2015.1

Since the beginning of the difficulties presented by the FIES System (SisFIES), the Escola Bahiana de Medicina e Saúde Pública has made efforts to resolve issues of interest to the academic community.

The school has collaborated with the Public Defender of the Union in Bahia, sending information related to the problems experienced by their students in accessing the FIES, with the aim of supporting the action that defends the interests of the students.

At the same time, the Bahiana maintains contact with the class associations to which it belongs – such as the Brazilian Association of Higher Education Supporters (ABMES) and Association Bahiana of Higher Education Supporters (ABAMES) to ask for clarification and guidance, discussing with their peers the measures to be taken, including in relation to appropriate legal actions, such as those being proposed by ABAMES.  

Despite conflicting information disseminated by the media, by the MEC itself and by the National Education Development Fund (FNDE), which generated widespread insecurity, the enrollment process was conducted without hindrance, within normal limits. Access to classes and internships remained guaranteed and there was no decrease in the number of subjects offered in accordance with the Pedagogical Project of the courses. We assure the Federal Public Defender's Office that, regardless of the additions made, all students would have their enrollment confirmed and their regular attendance to classes guaranteed.

It is also important to clarify that FIES resources destined to Bahiana are of character unlimited, which can be proven in the contract list attached.

The School has also placed the Social Service sector fully available to explain, guide and help students in their repeated attempts to get applications and amendments, including joint efforts in the computer labs to streamline the process. Regarding new applications, we inform you that SisFIES has presented inconsistencies that prevent the editing of data for approval. It is up to the FNDE, the system's managing body, to present solutions for such inconsistencies, which affect both the student and the HEI. 

On the 26th, at a public hearing held at Senate Human Rights Commission: Director of Funds and Benefits Management at the Ministry of Education, Antonio Correa Neto, acknowledged that there are problems in the system and that a new platform with the objective of improving performance is being implemented. The director said that next week some improvements could already be felt and warned that, until then, the pages could be down for some time. The executive's representative also stated that the addition of 1,9 million contracts is guaranteed and that anxiety is not necessary, since the MEC has an obligation to renew them. 

Through these statements of the highest authority responsible for the matter, the Bahiana sympathizes with the students and hopes that the entire problem is resolved as soon as possible, a fact of unconditional interest to the institution itself.