Government postpones Unified Competition throughout Brazil due to rain in RS

The federal government decided this Friday (May 3, 2024) to postpone the application of the CNU (Unified National Competition) tests throughout Brazil. The exam was scheduled for Sunday (May 5). The decision is justified by the situation of public calamity caused by heavy rains in Rio Grande do Sul, where at least 31 people have already died.

Popularly known as “Enem dos Concursos”, the country has 2.14 million registered for the test in 228 municipalities.

A total of 80,348 people (4.3% of the total for Brazil) are registered to take the tests in 10 municipalities in Rio Grande do Sul (3.7% of the total). The data is from the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services.

Read the list below:

The decision was taken with the approval of Minister Esther Dweck (Management and Innovation in Public Services). She will speak to the press at 3pm about the subject at Palácio do Planalto.

Earlier this Friday, minister Paulo Pimenta (Secretariat of Social Communication) said that postponing the contest would cost R$50 million to the public coffers.

There was unpreparedness on the part of the team responsible for the test. The competition notice does not stipulate possible reapplication (local or national) in situations of natural disasters. Only a refund is mentioned for people who experience this type of situation on the day of the test.

The text defines natural disasters as “logistical problems” with the possibility of “unpredictable and insurmountable harm to the candidate”. Here is the full text (PDF – 1 MB).

Furthermore, the notice also vetoes the possibility of a 2nd call “regardless of the reason given to justify the candidate’s delay or absence”.

The general coordinator of Logistics at CNU, Alexandre Retamal, had already signaled that the government did not count on the possibility of reapplication.

“Of course, if a serious situation occurs, this matter will be taken to the minister [Esther Dweck] and for a decision within the government, but our expectation and our work is to ensure that this does not happen”declared in an interview with the website Directed Sheet published on April 25th.

Another impasse is that there is no question bank like the Enem (National High School Exam). The evidence has already been sent to the States. The government considered that a broader postponement would compromise the security of the issues against leaks.

The governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite (PSDB), asked the government to postpone the CNU exams because of the destruction in the cities. He told the Power360 on Thursday (May 2) who contacted Minister Esther to make the request.

RAINS IN RS

Rains have been hitting Rio Grande do Sul since Sunday (April 28). On Wednesday (May 1), Eduardo Leite declared a state of public calamity and said that this could be the “Greatest disaster in history” of the region in terms of material losses. The federal government recognized the state of calamity this Thursday (May 2).

Also this Thursday (May 2), the governor of Rio Grande do Sul published a video on his Instagram profile about the leak from the July 14th dam, which collapsed (watch here). He said the effect of the breakup will not cause a “flash flood” over the municipalities, but that the water will rise to the banks of nearby municipalities. He advised the population to look for higher points along the river and leave their homes if they are in areas at risk of flooding.

Watch (3min1s):

LULA VISITS RIO GRANDE DO SUL

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) traveled this Thursday (May 2) to the State, accompanied by a delegation of ministers, to discuss the situation. An overflight in the municipality of Santa Maria (RS) was planned, but weather conditions caused the plans to be cancelled.

“There will be no shortage of help and money from the federal government. Everything within the reach of the federal government, whether through ministers, civil society or our military, we will dedicate 24 hours to meeting the basic needs of the people who are isolated due to the rain”said the president during a meeting with Leite.

Watch (2min55s):

THE COMPETITION IN NUMBERS

There are 2.14 million registered at CNU and 6,640 vacancies offered. They are 322 posts for 1 candidate, average. Salaries range up to R$22,922.

The government says it has raised R$126 million by paying for registration fees for the test. Lula’s administration says “the value [da arrecadação] is higher than the final cost” of the contest. The excerpt is in a statement of the ministry.