Programa bolsa permanência: o impacto na permanência e no rendimento acadêmico dos estudantes indígenas do Instituto de Natureza e Cultura

Abstract

The Bolsa Permanência Program (PBP) is a public policy of student financial assistance aimed at supporting students in situations of socioeconomic vulnerability, with particular emphasis on Indigenous and Quilombola students, seeking to ensure their permanence in higher education and reduce academic dropout rates. In the Amazonian context, marked by social inequalities, geographical distances, and cultural challenges, the PBP plays a strategic role.This study was conducted at the Institute of Nature and Culture of the Federal University of Amazonas (INC/UFAM), with the objective of analyzing how the Bolsa Permanência Program influences the permanence and academic performance of beneficiary students. This is an exploratory and descriptive study with a mixed-methods approach, carried out through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews applied to 25 students benefiting from the program. Quantitative data were analyzed using Exploratory Data Analysis, and qualitative data were examined through content analysis.The results indicate that the PBP significantly contributes to student permanence by enabling the coverage of basic expenses and reducing the risk of dropout. Improvements in academic performance and emotional stability were also observed among the students. However, limitations were identified, including the insufficiency of the benefit amount, administrative bureaucracy, and difficulties related to academic and cultural adaptation. It is concluded that the PBP is fundamental to promoting equity in higher education, although it requires improvements to more adequately address the specific needs of Indigenous students and the Amazonian context.