Students from Amazonas go to court after UEA ends reserving places for candidates from the interior

UEA Higher School of Health Sciences, in Manaus. Rede Amazônica The families of six students from the interior of Amazonas filed a lawsuit to question changes in the rules for distributing places through the Serial Admission System (SIS) of the Amazonas State University (UEA). The change discussed in court is the extinction of Group K of reserved places, intended for students from the interior of the state. ? SIS is one of the selection processes that allow students to enter UEA. The entrance exam consists of three tests, carried out at the end of each year of high school, called Follow-up Tests I, II and III, and the final score is the sum of the three grades. The decision was taken by UEA to comply with a decision by the Federal Supreme Court (STF), which considered the reservation of vacancies based on the candidate's regional origin to be unconstitutional. ? Join the g1 AM channel on WhatsApp In Amazonas, public universities included a reserve of places for students who demonstrated completion of basic or supplementary education in the state, and this resource was considered invalid by the STF in December 2025, through Direct Action of Unconstitutionality (ADI) 5650, proposed by the Attorney General's Office (PGR). The action's rapporteur, minister Cássio Nunes Marques, stated that the reservation of vacancies should be used to reduce socioeconomic inequalities and that geographic or regional origin criteria create distinctions between Brazilians, which is prohibited by the Constitution. The decision also ended the reservation of places for indigenous people of ethnicities located specifically in Amazonas and the allocation of half of the places in health courses to students from the interior of the state. Students ask for transition rule The group of students who filed the action began participating in the SIS in 2024, and participated in two of the three stages of the SIS. The change in the reservation of vacancies was implemented by UEA in 2026, which would be the last year of participation for these candidates. After taking the third test, the final grade would be considered in the context of reserving places for possible admission to the university in 2027. The students' request is for a transition rule to be adopted for candidates who had already completed part of the process when the change occurred. They would continue to participate in the selection process normally, with no guarantee of a place or enrollment at the university in 2027. According to the students' families, the main concern is that the score obtained by the students is considered in the context in which it was obtained. "The Supreme Court itself demonstrated concern about preserving established situations and preventing a change from having abrupt effects. What we ask is that this same concern for legal security be considered for students who had already completed two of the three years of the SIS when the rules were modified", says the note released. To g1, UEA informed that it is complying with what was determined by the Federal Supreme Court and that it will comply with any decision taken by the Court on the case. Check out the note from the students' families in full: We do not want to violate the STF's decision. On the contrary. The Supreme Court itself demonstrated concern about preserving established situations and preventing a change from having abrupt effects. What we ask is that this same concern for legal security be considered for students who had already completed two of the three years of SIS when the rules were modified. These students are not asking for automatic approval. They want to take the third test and compete for their places. What they are asking for is that two years of regular participation in a selection process are not ignored and that the educational reality of the interior of Amazonas is also considered. Check out the UEA note in full: The State University of Amazonas (UEA) informs that it is complying with the law and the determinations of the Federal Supreme Court (STF). The institution emphasizes that access to Justice, upon any allegation, is free, and any judicial decision will be promptly complied with.