Impacto do uso de banda larga nas escolas públicas rurais do Brasil de 2009 a 2019

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the impact of implementing broadband in Brazilian rural schools from 2009 to 2019, aiming to analyze the effect of the Broadband in Schools Program (PBLE) on school performance using IDEB indicators, such as approval rates and age-grade distortion. Launched in 2008 by the federal government, the program aims to connect all public schools to high-speed internet. With around 15% of the Brazilian population living in rural areas, over fifty thousand public schools, predominantly municipal, face connectivity challenges. In 2020, while 95% of urban schools were connected, rural schools still dealt with structural issues, such as low connection quality. The methodology adopted involved applied econometrics on panel data, using information from the Prova Brasil and the School Census from the Basic Education Assessment System (SAEB), collected from official sources like INEP and data from ANATEL. The econometric model used was Callaway and Sant'Anna, an extension of the Differences in Differences (DiD) method, which allows for a more robust analysis of heterogeneity and considers treatments implemented in different periods. The results show a positive impact on the academic performance of connected rural schools, especially in the final years of elementary education. There was a 3.83% increase in IDEB compared to the control group, with improvements in Portuguese and Mathematics. The approval rate increased significantly, particularly in the final years, with a rise of 1.49%. The research also identified a reduction in age-grade distortion rates of 2.41% in the initial years and 6.28% in the final years. A lagged effect was identified, suggesting that the benefits of broadband manifest over time, along with a cumulative effect, intensifying the impact as implementation progresses. However, there are limitations, such as the restricted analysis period due to late implementation. Future research can expand the study period and conduct more detailed analyses, considering regional levels for a more comprehensive understanding of broadband impacts in rural schools.