Petrópolis Chamber debates the future of the Social Entrance Examination in a hearing Priscila Torquato/g1 The Municipal Council of Petrópolis, in the Serrana region of Rio, is holding a public hearing this Tuesday (9) to discuss the future of Vestibular Social, a program that has already guaranteed higher education scholarships for more than 2 thousand students from the municipality's public network. The hearing will be promoted by the Education, Social Assistance and Defense of Human Rights Commission and will bring together representatives from the City Hall, the Catholic University of Petrópolis (UCP), students and members of civil society. The debate occurs amid the lack of new editions of the program and concerns about maintaining scholarships already awarded. According to the president of the commission, councilor Lívia Miranda, students benefiting from the Social Vestibular sought out parliamentarians to report insecurity about the continuity of the courses. 📱 Follow the g1 Região Serrana channel on WhatsApp. Now on g1 "We were approached by students who entered the UCP through the Social Entrance Exam, mainly due to insecurity regarding the continuity and completion of their degree. The City Hall has not made scholarship payments since 2025, and this represents a risk to an important public policy for those who are unable to study in another city", he stated. The parliamentarian said that the commission intends to discuss alternatives to guarantee the students' permanence and the resumption of the program. Created in 2008 through a partnership between Petrópolis City Hall and UCP, Vestibular Social offers full scholarships to students who completed high school in the public network or through the Todos Pela Educação Program. Over 16 years, the initiative has awarded 2,020 scholarships. The last selection was carried out in 2024, when 200 places were offered. Since then, there have been no announcements of new editions. Program that has already awarded more than 2,000 higher education scholarships faces uncertainty Priscila Torquato/g1 Debt and concern about continuity In a statement, the Catholic University of Petrópolis reported that it had not been contacted by the municipality to open new vacancies in recent years and reiterated its interest in maintaining the partnership. The institution also stated that there are around R$5 million in late installments relating to the agreement signed with the City Hall. "UCP maintains hope and open dialogue so that this very important partnership can be resumed as soon as possible", informed the university. According to the institution, the regularization of transfers is essential to guarantee the continuity of existing scholarships and allow for new editions of the program. Member of the committee organizing the hearing, councilor Thiago Damaceno highlighted the social impact of the initiative. "The Social Entrance Exam represents opportunity, inclusion and life transformation. Many families were only able to see their children enter a university because of this program. We need to discuss ways to ensure its continuity", he stated. The situation also worries student organizations. For Daniel Beatriz, president of the National Union of Students (UNE) and UCP student, the program is one of the main ways of accessing higher education in the city. "The Social Entrance Exam is the biggest policy for access to higher education in Petrópolis. UNE is following with concern the information that the City Hall has a debt of R$5 million related to scholarships for these students", he said. What the City Hall says In a statement, Petrópolis City Hall informed that it is interested in maintaining the program and resolving the impasse with the university. "The municipality is committed to negotiating debts with the institution and maintaining the program," said the statement. READ ALSO: Petrópolis suspends dengue vaccine from the Butantan Institute after guidance from the Ministry of Health Nova Friburgo records the lowest temperature in RJ and appears among the coldest in Brazil Sniffer dogs help in operation to combat drug trafficking in Teresópolis