Financing for equity in higher education
1. Education resources to subnational governments
2. Education resources to institutions
3. Education resources to students
4. Support for students' living costs
Introduction
Key financing indicators (UIS Data)
There are no recent numbers regarding the gross enrolment ratio for tertiary education for both sexes, the initial government funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita, nor the initial household funding per tertiary student as a percentage of GDP per capita.
Tuition-free status
Law No. 6628/2020 establishes that public higher education is free. It exempts all tuition fees and payments related to probationary, remedial, preparatory, and admission courses, as well as admission exams and degree courses after student admission.
Governance
The National Council for Higher Education proposes and coordinates policies and programmes for higher education and develops plans for funding needs and sources. The national budget is then transferred to the Ministry of Education for its allocation.
1. Education resources to subnational governments
The funds are transferred from the national budget to the Ministry of Education and distributed directly to universities. No funding mechanisms for transferring resources from the central government to local governments for public higher education have been identified.
2. Education resources to institutions
Funding for private universities in the absence of public institutions
Private universities may receive state funding provided they meet the requirements of quality and administrative transparency, which is regulated by the National Council for Higher Education.
Allocation and equity
The National Fund for Public Investment and Development (FONACIDE) was established under Law No. 4758 and is financed through income received as compensation for the construction of the Itaipú and Yacyretá hydroelectric dams. Its resources are intended to support development initiatives, including those in the education sector.
In the higher education sector, the Ministry of Finance allocates 7% of the FONACIDE to the country's public universities, the Higher Institute of Fine Arts, the National Institute of Higher Education, Teacher Training Institutes, under the Ministry of Education and Science, and the National Institute of Health.
3. Education resources to students
Admission for vulnerable groups
Special admission criteria for vulnerable groups exist at the university level, based on their regulations. For instance, at the Universidad Nacional de Asunción, the Disability Support Services aims to address the needs of students with disabilities and enhance their abilities to facilitate their admission and retention. The University also reserves places each year for indigenous students from Paraguay to enrol through the UNA-INDI Agreement System.
Scholarships, grants and loans for vulnerable groups
The MEC, through the National Scholarship Council, annually awards full scholarships to indigenous applicants for nationally accredited university or tertiary courses at public and private institutions. Scholarships, awarded under Law No. 5.347, cover the full cost of study, including tuition fees, monthly fees, examination fees, and any other required fees during the academic year.
Additionally, the Government of Paraguay offers 5,000 scholarships, including 1,000 reserved for selected applicants from the 22 districts of the Social Protection System, in line with the Social Cabinet's policies.
The fund for scholarships and grants is created with any surplus that remains from the application of the Law No. 6628 regarding the FONACIDE fund, to be used for awarding scholarships and providing materials to students in admission and degree courses.
The financial development agency (AFD) provides a loan programme for Paraguayan students to cover tuition, fees, books, and graduation expenses at authorized higher education institutions. This programme is available to native or naturalized residents with proof of admission. No equity mechanism has been identified.
4. Support for students’ living costs
Transportation
Student transportation is provided by some public universities offering free transport for students or through scholarships.
Accommodation
Student accommodation is provided by some public universities offering free transport for students or through scholarships. However, the National Youth Secretariat (SNJ), within the framework of the Youth Initiatives Grant Program (PROSIJ), funds projects for the “Improvement and renovation of university residences.”
Textbooks
Support for purchasing student textbooks is available through full scholarship programmes.
