Do direito à educação ao fechamento de escolas no campo: um olhar sobre o fechamento de escolas no município de Santa Rita - PB

Abstract

This study stems from a profound analysis of rural schools and the challenges they encounter within a latifundia and hegemonic structure that seeks to engulf the countryside and, consequently, its educational institutions. The research is centered on the Municipal School São Sebastião, situated in the city of Santa Rita - PB. The primary objective is to identify the underlying factors contributing to school closures within the city, ultimately denying rural communities their fundamental right to education. Additionally, we seek to comprehend the reasons and motives behind the escalating number of school closures and interruptions in rural areas between the years 2010 and 2022. In order to gather comprehensive data, an extensive review of literature on rural education and school closures was conducted. Esteemed authors such as Batista (2008), Caldart (2008) (2015), Molina (2014), Calazans (1993), Silva (2004), Mariano, and Sapeli (2014) provided substantial insights and served as critical references. Research tools such as the website of the National Institute for Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira (INEP), School Censuses, and the Qedu Platform were employed to strategically map and collect data pertaining to the phenomenon of school closures within the rural areas of the city. Moreover, this study drew upon a range of supplementary sources, including legal documents, decrees, photographs, and interviews with members of the affected community and education professionals who experienced the consequences of school closures. The findings revealed that a total of 12 schools within the city were permanently closed throughout this period, resulting in a gradual depopulation of the studied communities, as these schools served as central pillars of local life. Furthermore, it became evident that the closure of these educational institutions further accentuated the neglect by public administration, depriving the community of essential rights such as access to healthcare, security, and above all, education.