O enfrentamento ao trabalho precoce e o papel das políticas educacionais no Estado da Paraíba

Abstract

This thesis analyzes the confrontation with child labor and the role of educational policies in municipalities in Paraíba state, Brazil. It is presumed that the actions aimed at coping with child labor in the studied municipalities have been fragmented and punctual; in addition, educational policies developed therein do not seem to encompass actions to confront child labor. It is thought that educational social policies have not established the role of confronting with child labor since they are created within a capitalist production system, a context where social policies assume a focused and residual character; and are also created in partnership with the civil society. While performing actions which replace the role of the State, the civil society contradictorily claims for their guarantee of rights. The perspective of social policies, used herein as a theoretical reference, is understood as a fragmented and sectorized response to the various forms of how the "social issue" can be presented. The field work of this thesis was carried out in different studies, namely: a) the first study, which consisted of a documentary research carried out at the Regional Superintendence of Labor in Paraíba - SRTE / PB and in the Child Labor Information System - SITI of the Ministry of Labor and Employment; b) the second study, which consisted of a documentary research carried out with the minutes of the Forum for Prevention and Eradication of Child Labor and Protection of Adolescent Workers in Paraíba - FEPETI / PB; c) the third study, which was a documentary research about the legal framework of educational policy on the Federal Government website and its relation to child labor; d) and the fourth study, divided into two stages – the first part dealt with interviews with representatives of the Child and Adolescent Rights Guarantee System (SGD), and the second part corresponded to the establishment of forums with the protection networks for the rights of children and adolescents in Paraíba state. The data were analyzed using the thematic content analysis in the MAXQDA software. The findings revealed that although policies aimed at coping with child labor have been historically developed, they have taken place in a fragmented and selective fashion under conflict between the State and the civil society, and they might have been neglected and dismantled over the years. In the meantime, educational policies – and specifically schools, have not confronted with this issue despite being seen as one of the pillars in dealing with child labor through child labor eradication programs, in addition to being seen as the legal framework of education. The lack of confrontation may be due to non-participation in discussion forums; to neglecting their role in the protection of working children and adolescents during educational activities; and to not recognizing their role in the formation of individual and collective awareness, which contributes to human emancipation.