Effectiveness of student assistance to ensure student permanence in Brazilian public higher education

This study aimed to present the impact of the implementation of student assistance on the stay in Brazilian public higher education at the IFCE campus Iguatu, during the period from 2011 to 2015. It was characterized by a quantitative-qualitative, exploratory-descriptive approach. As for the employed techniques, documentary and field research was carried out, in the norms that regulate Student Assistance, in the academic system and in the Social Service sector. The results indicated a greater permanence among the student beneficiaries of the student aid when compared to the non-beneficiaries; higher length of stay among female students compared to males; the course of Bachelor of Social Service has a higher rate of student stay, while the course in Technology in Irrigation and Drainage obtained the lowest rate of student stay. The research point out that financial aid is an effective possibility to guarantee student stay in higher education.

Key words:
Higher education; Educational evaluation; Student stay; Student assistance