Coronavirus

Senate suspends student loan dues amid pandemic

Brazilian Senate suspends student loan dues amid pandemic

Brazilian senators unanimously approved a bill that postpones the payment of student loans under the Student Financing Fund (Fies), due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Students with loans in this program will not have to make any repayments for as long as the state of public health emergency persists. The program supports low-income college students with subsidized funding. According to the bill, which now goes to the lower house for approval, students who had paid all outstanding installments before March may postpone regular payments, interest, late fees, and contract renegotiations.