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The level of idleness in Brazilian universities has reached alarming levels, exceeding 40% in public universities and exceeding 80% in private universities. Several reasons can be put forward to explain this: the pandemic, the post-pandemic period, changes in the job market, the growth of distance learning, disillusionment with higher education, among others. However, no single fact can explain this consistent trajectory observed over the last 10 years. The fact is that no business can live with such levels of idleness without giving in to the temptation to downsize or propose closing activities. This temptation is threatening for Brazil, which has the lowest rates of higher education (around 20% among the population over 25) in Latin America, equivalent to less than half the average rate of higher education in OECD countries (44% for those over 25). Therefore, our challenge should be to increase the level of education, as required by a modern, knowledge-based economy. This is why this trajectory threatens the future of the country. In this context, it is surprising that this issue has not been debated at length by Brazilian society, and particularly in academia. Universities are discussing plans to attract students in an alienated manner, when in truth the main challenge in this area should be to foster and maintain the interest of young high school students in higher education, for the good of the universities, but mainly for the good of Brazil. Therefore, it seems even more alienating that Brazilian universities are only concerned with productivity, building the Lattes CV and filling out the Sucupira Platform, completely disconnected from the experiences of high school students, particularly in the most vulnerable communities that surround them. Thus, the question that arises is: what are we doing to foster the interest of young Brazilians in higher education? And today there is a vote on the New High School, which promises to further foster disinterest in technical and scientific knowledge among young people, under the mantra of training for the market. It is tragic and threatening. https://g1.globo.com/jornal-nacional/... https://grupoahora.net.br/conteudos/2... https://educa.ibge.gov.br/jovens/conh.... https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/econ... https://www.metropoles.com/dino/ocde-...