Abstract
Abstract: Introduction: Almost 20 years since the beginning of affirmative action implementation, there is still much discussion about the real effectiveness of these measures, especially regarding academic performance, comparing “quota holders” to “non-quota holders”, with doubts arising about whether the former can keep up with the latter. Objective: To establish a profile and compare the academic performance and other aspects related to the academic life of “quota holder” students (Inclusion Program with Merit in Public Higher Education in São Paulo - PIMESP) with the other students in their respective classes selected via broad competition (BC). Method: Retrospective cohort of 1st to 3rd-year medical students, divided in BC or PIMESP. The following were assessed: arithmetic mean of the final grades of the curricular subjects; final approval status (FAS) in the subjects; frequency; books borrowed from the library (BBLi) and participation in monitoring/academic center. Continuous variables were compared by Student’s t-test or Mann-Whitney test and categorical by chi-square or Fisher’s exact test. Values p < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Of the 237 students included in the sample, all had completed the 1st year (2015, 2016 and 2017 entrants), 158 students (2015 and 2016 entrants) the 1st and 2nd years, and 78 (32.9%) had completed the 3rd year (2015 entrants) at the time of the survey. In the analysis of all those who had completed the 1st year, where 16% were PIMESP, there was a difference in mean final grades and FAS, higher for BC students and no difference for attendance, BBLi, participation in monitoring and academic center. In the analysis of those who had completed the 2nd year, where 15.8% were PIMESP, there was no difference between any of the studied variables. The analysis of those who had completed the 3rd year, where 15.4% were PIMESP, once again showed difference between the averages of final grades and FAS, higher for BC students, but with a less marked difference, and there were no significant differences for the other variables. Conclusion: We observed a fluctuation of academic performance among PIMESP students, towards inferior outcomes, when compared to BC students, throughout the first three years of medical school, but not for other variables. No increase in the dropout rate was observed, contrary to what is found in the literature.
Highlights
Almost 20 years since the beginning of affirmative action implementation, there is still much discussion about the real effectiveness of these measures, especially regarding academic performance, comparing “quota holders” to “non-quota holders”, with doubts arising about whether the former can keep up with the latter
In the analysis of all those who had completed the 1st year, where 16% were PIMESP, there was a difference in mean final grades and final approval status (FAS), higher for broad competition (BC) students and no difference for attendance, books borrowed from the library (BBLi), participation in monitoring and academic center
In the analysis of those who had completed the 2nd year, where 15.8% were PIMESP, there was no difference between any of the studied variables. The analysis of those who had completed the 3rd year, where 15.4% were PIMESP, once again showed difference between the averages of final grades and FAS, higher for BC students, but with a less marked difference, and there were no significant differences for the other variables
Summary
Almost 20 years since the beginning of affirmative action implementation, there is still much discussion about the real effectiveness of these measures, especially regarding academic performance, comparing “quota holders” to “non-quota holders”, with doubts arising about whether the former can keep up with the latter. Education is a fundamental activity in any society, and it is considered one of the factors of socioeconomic development It is an important component for the sociocultural, political and economic development of society and the citizens 1,2. It was necessary to define education in terms of its effect on economic growth, and on human development[3], which reaffirms that higher education and schools are seen as the driving forces of economic development 2. This idea is disseminated as a solution to the problems of existing inequalities between countries and individuals[2]. Specific public policies were created to promote the rights of the black population[4]
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