Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul Warns Unable to Afford Water and Power

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – By cutting approximately R$30 million in funding and investment, as determined by the Ministry of Education (MEC) in early 2019, as of August the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS) will not be able to pay for water and electricity and, as a result, classes will likely be suspended. The warning was given by the dean of the institution, Marcelo Turine.

Turine says that currently the payments for these two utilities are up to date and that he is now talking to suppliers to ensure a tolerance in the event of arrears, so that supply will not be suspended.

“Unless the suppliers fail to act reasonably concerning the University, in what is a transitional period, at first yes [there is a risk of suspension of classes]. We are talking to Águas Guariroba, in Campo Grande, and Energisa, so that should there be a delay of two to three months, supply will not be interrupted, and no harm will be caused to education, and research laboratories, which are strategic for Mato Grosso do Sul and for the competitiveness of Brazil as a whole,” he commented.

Turine said that the UFMS disburses annually R$20 million in water and electricity for all its ten campuses, where approximately 23,000 students are enrolled. He also commented that out of an annual budget of about R$900 million, 85 percent of the funds are allocated to the payroll of 5,050 active and retired employees. “The balance is to cover these contracts that are vital to keeping the institution running,” he said.