Wed, 3 Jun 1998 00:13:45 -0700 (PDT)
	Wed, 3 Jun 1998 00:07:12 -0700 (PDT)
Date: Wed, 3 Jun 1998 00:07:12 -0700 (PDT)
To: (Recipient list suppressed)
From: Michael Eisenscher <meisenscher@igc.apc.org>
Subject: [PEN-L:390] Brazilian Universities, might have been Diploma
  Mills do Sul
>A LETTER FROM BRAZILIAN PROFESSORS TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
>
>The Brazilian Public University has been under its worst crisis lately.
>Governamental policies aiming at turning public
>universities into private ones and at worsening public services have
>handicapped this patrimony, which was slowly and
>carefully built, decade after decade, by Brazilians. Public institutions
>play an important role in the development of this
>country. They are responsibe for 90% Brazilian scientific production and
>for professionals formation in different fields,
>at graduate and undergraduate levels. Morevover Brazil has a complete
>public system of professional formation,
>without which there would be no developing country at all.
>
>Fernando Henrique Cardoso's governamental policies concerning public
>universities could be fully apprehended when
>Master's and Doctorate scholarships were cut off ; likewise resources
>for investment in science and technology were
>abolished. Low budgets have affected even basic maintenance such as
>payment of water, electricity and telephone
>bills. There has been no proper condition for University work and low
>salaries have not been raised for the last three
>years, in spite of about 50% inflation .About 8,000 (eight thousand )
>professors have retired or quit their teaching
>careers due to threats at the withdrawal of labour rights.
>
>In spite of all these hazardous problems and thanks to professors' and
>researchers'intellectual, technical and cultural
>production,, Brazilian Public Universities have been recognized as the
>best centers of professional formation by
>Brazilian society and by the international community . Brazilians'needs
>and Universities interests have been joined as
>one , so as to find solution for very urgent problems and to construct
>Brazil's future. Hence, Brazilian Federal University
>Professors went on strike last March 31st.
>
>At this sorrowful crisis moment , Brazilian professors are requesting
>the international community support, which will
>surely help convince Brazilian authorities sensitive to solutions of the
>above referred crisis, and to give Brazilian Public
>University servants - salary raise, without which no professor can do
>his/her job with dignity. President Fernando
>Henrique Cardoso 's and the Minister of Education Paulo Renato e-mails
>are as follows:
>
>The President of Brazilian Republic: PR@PLANALTO.GOV.BR PR@CR-DF.RNP.BR
>Ministery of Education: SESU@SESU.MEC.GOV.BR
>The e-mail of some national newspapers are also included:
>Jornal de Brasilia: JBRREDA@BR.HOMESHOPPING.COM.BR
>Correio Braziliense: EDUCACAO@CBDATA.COM.BR
>Jornal do Brasil: CARTAS@JB.COM.BR
>Estado de SP: OESPBSB@BRNET.COM.BR
>Folha de SP FOLHA@UOL.COM.BR
>Gazeta Mercantil FLAMBACH@GAZETAMERCANTIL.COM.BR
>O Globo : LEANDROF@BSB.OGLOBO.COM.BR
>
>

Tom Kruse / Casilla 5812 / Cochabamba, Bolivia
Tel/Fax: (591-42) 48242
Email: tkruse@albatros.cnb.net