Cotas raciais: escrevivências de estudantes do curso de Pedagogia na Universidade Federal da Paraíba (2018-2024)

Abstract

This undergraduate thesis addresses the theme of racial quotas and the democratization of access to higher education, focusing on the challenges faced by quota students in remaining within the academic environment, particularly at the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB). The study aims to investigate the impacts of the Racial Quotas Law (Law No. 12.711/2012) on the Pedagogy program at UFPB, Campus I, analyzing whether access has been effectively democratized and what difficulties these students face in continuing their studies. The methodology is based on a qualitative approach, through documentary and bibliographic analysis regarding the implementation of the Racial Quotas Law, examining the main challenges experienced by students benefiting from this policy between 2018 and 2024. The research seeks to identify and understand the factors influencing their permanence or dropout, with an emphasis on academic, socioeconomic, and institutional barriers. The study is developed through “escrevivência”-based interviews, a methodology grounded in the works of Conceição Evaristo (2017–2020), which centers on the lived narratives and experiences of quota students. Furthermore, the research analyzes institutional policies adopted by UFPB aimed at supporting student retention, proposing reflections on their effectiveness and possible improvements. This work contributes to the debate on racial quotas as a public policy of inclusion in higher education, and to discussions about the need to improve retention strategies to ensure academic success for quota students, thereby consolidating the democratization not only of access, but also of educational trajectories.