Students in Special Education: A Panorama of Enem Registrations and Enrollment in Higher Education Over the Years

Abstract

This research aims to compare the enrollment of students in special education (PEE) and those with specific educational needs (NEE) in Brazilian education (undergraduate courses) and among Enem candidates over a historical series from 2016 to 2022 to identify any significant differences. The qualitative-quantitative, descriptive, and exploratory research revealed a decline in Enem registrations for both NEE candidates and the general public, affecting the requests for available resources. However, the increase in higher and basic education enrollments shows that the reduction in Enem registrations has not directly impacted the growth in enrollments. PEE students have increased more than the general average in higher and basic education but continue to follow the trend of declining in Enem, influenced by the lack of incentives, investments, the pandemic, and political instability observed during the analyzed period.