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Retired Path from Patos do Piauí Exposes How EJA, Enem, and Sisu Can Open Doors to Federal University at Any Age, Combining Night Routine, Preparation During Breaks, and National Selection for Biology Course at UFPI, with Local and Family Repercussion.
At 74 years old, retiree João José de Carvalho earned a spot in the Biology course at the Federal University of Piauí (UFPI) by using, for the first time, his score from Enem to compete for Sisu.
Resident of Patos do Piauí, in the interior of the state, he achieved this result while resuming his educational journey through Education for Young Adults (EJA), a program aimed at those who did not complete basic education during the regular period.
Selection via Sisu and Result with Enem Score
His entry came through the national selection process that distributes spots in public institutions based on exam performance.
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In January 2025, with the announcement of the Sisu results, the Piauí State Department of Education (Seduc) gathered cases of EJA students who secured spots in higher education, including João’s.
While following a formal path similar to other candidates, his story draws attention for bringing together two movements rarely associated in the minds of many students: returning to the classroom decades later and taking the exam that has become the main gateway to public universities across the country.
Nighttime EJA Routine and Study Time
João studied at the EJA of the State Center for Full-Time Education (Ceti) Reunida de Patos, in Patos do Piauí.
According to Seduc, the availability of evening classes weighed in on his decision to restart, as the program is designed for those who need to balance study with other responsibilities during the day.
In a statement released by the state network, he described how preparation fit into the breaks of his routine.
“I work in the electronics sector and studied whenever I had free time.” “I returned to school because EJA offers classes at night.”
Participation in the Enem took place in 2024, the year in which, according to reports on the case, João completed high school through EJA and decided to register for the exam.
The spot was then contested using the score obtained in the test and confirmed by Sisu.
Enem and Public University: Equal Steps for All
Sisu is the Ministry of Education’s system that selects candidates for spots in universities and federal institutes based on Enem scores, respecting the course offerings and the rules of each institution.
It was through this route that João appeared among the approved candidates.
The announcement of the Sisu 2025 results occurred on January 27, as reported by the agencies and media outlets that covered the selection during that period.
From there, the approved candidates proceed to the enrollment and documentation presentation steps required by the educational institution.
In João’s case, the key point is that age does not change the process steps: he registered, took the exam, used the score in the system, and achieved the necessary classification for the chosen course, following the rules applied to all competitors.
EJA in Piauí and Impact on the Surroundings
Upon announcing the list of EJA students approved for higher education, Seduc treated João’s case as part of a collection of trajectories resumed by those who were out of school.
In the same publication, the department also mentioned other approvals related to EJA and EJA TEC, reinforcing the role of these modalities in completing basic education and opening doors for selections such as the Enem.
Among the elements associated with the story, reports noted that João is a grandfather of five and is known in the community by the nickname “Jã Jão.”
The visibility of the case, in these narratives, is linked to the combination of a work routine, the resumption of nighttime study, and the approval in a federal university without any exceptions in the entrance process.
The very words of the student were used to summarize the significance of this achievement in a family context.
“Studying is always the best option. I am very happy. Anytime is a good time to learn. It is never too late.”
Alongside this, Seduc also published the evaluation from Secretary Washington Bandeira, who stated that “EJA and EJA TEC provide more and better opportunities for people who were out of school.”
Biology, the course for which João was approved, encompasses fields focused on the study of life, including areas such as ecology, genetics, zoology, botany, and microbiology, as well as professional paths in teaching and research.
Entering through EJA, in his case, shows that resuming education can lead to public higher education even when returning to studies occurs after decades.
If João’s spot resulted from the combination of nighttime EJA, Enem, and Sisu, what barriers still keep young people, adults, and seniors from attempting the same path to a public university?
Tem um comentário. Sou aluna do Eja quero fazer uma pergunta o porquer que os alunos do eja nao tem o beneficio pé de meia
Os alunos da EJA têm direito ao pé-de-meia.
O Programa Pé-de-Meia é destinado a estudantes matriculados no ensino médio da rede pública de ensino, e para participar, é necessário atender aos seguintes critérios:
Ser estudante matriculado no ensino médio regular das redes públicas e ter entre 14 a 24 anos ou estudante da educação de jovens e adultos (EJA) das redes públicas e ter entre 19 e 24 anos;
Ser integrante de família inscrita no Cadastro Único para Programas Sociais do Governo Federal (CadÚnico) e que tenha renda, por pessoa, de até meio salário-mínimo;
Ter inscrição regular no Cadastro de Pessoas Físicas (CPF);
Ter o mínimo de 80% de frequência escolar no mês;
Procure a secretaria da sua escola e veja se você tem direito.
Muitos querem profissão de destaque, como medicina. O senhor escolheu biologia. Que orgulho do senhor, pois, a medicina surge da biologia. Seu liiiindo com muito carinho e respeito. Parabéns!!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Excelente! Parabéns ao João!