Justiça suspends MEC penalties for low-performing medical schools in Enamed exam
A federal court has suspended penalties imposed by Brazil's Ministry of Education on medical schools with poor results in the first Enamed exam, citing lack of transparency. The decision follows appeals from university associations and affects 107 courses initially flagged for sanctions.
A federal judge has suspended penalties imposed by Brazil's Ministry of Education (MEC) on medical schools that performed poorly in the first edition of the National Medical Education Evaluation Exam (Enamed). The ruling, issued by Judge Maria do Carmo Cardoso of the Federal Regional Court of the 1st Region, overturns sanctions that would have affected 107 of 351 evaluated courses, deemed unsatisfactory in the January 2025 results.
The decision came after appeals from the Brazilian Association of Higher Education Maintainers (ABMES) and the Brazilian Association of Faculties (ABRAFI), which argued that the MEC's post-exam disclosure of evaluation rules violated legal principles. The judge agreed, stating the sanctions could cause "grave and irreparable harm" to institutions and students. The MEC has announced plans to appeal the ruling.
## Penalties under dispute
The original sanctions, based on Enamed 2025 results, would have imposed the following restrictions:
| Penalty | Number of affected institutions | |---|---| | Complete suspension of admissions and exclusion from federal programs (Fies, etc.) | 8 | | 50% reduction in student intake and exclusion from federal programs | 13 | | 25% reduction in student intake and exclusion from federal programs | 33 | | Ban on increasing student intake | 45 |
## Industry reaction
ABMES welcomed the decision as a step toward greater transparency. "This creates an opportunity to address methodological and transparency issues identified in the 2025 exam," the association stated, advocating for improved preparations for the 2026 Enamed. ABMES president Janguiê Diniz called for intensified dialogue with the MEC to ensure legal certainty for institutions.
The MEC has not yet responded to requests for comment on the ruling. The suspension remains in effect until a final judgment is reached.
## Controversy surrounding the judge
Judge Maria do Carmo Cardoso faced disciplinary action in 2022 after supporting anti-democratic protests on social media. The National Justice Council (CNJ) suspended her accounts following posts perceived as endorsing military intervention, including a message equating the Brazilian soccer team with protestors. The CNJ found her conduct violated judicial ethics, though she did not comment at the time.
