Brazil's Education Ministry sets deadline for university childcare centers

Brazil's Ministry of Education (MEC), together with the Ministry of Development and Assistance Social (MDS), announced that federal universities must submit proposals for the strategic UniCuidotecas call by Saturday, 1 May. The program aims to create up to 50 "cuidotecas"—childcare spaces for children aged 3 to 12, including those with disabilities—primarily during evening hours to support students, faculty and staff who work or study at night, especially women.

Universities may request funding to equip and operate a cuidoteca for up to 40 children for 12 months. Applications must be submitted electronically and include a work plan, signed commitment term, architectural drawings, photographs of the site and documentation of night‑time student and staff numbers. Selected institutions will receive resources for furniture, accessibility equipment, pedagogical materials, professional staff and operating costs, but not for major structural renovations.