O Proeja em comércio do Instituto Federal Farroupilha – Campus Júlio de Castilhos como uma possibilidade de mudança de vida: concepções dos egressos

Abstract

Assuming a commitment to the construction of a democratic nation and attending to government programs of professional training and combating structural inequalities, the Federal Institutes of Education, Science and Technology offers professional courses in the modalities of Professional Education Integrated to Basic Education in the Modality of Youth and Adult Education (PROEJA). The formation of workers and citizens in Brazil is marked by structural duality. To pursue a model of society with an educational system more accessible and equitable to basic, public, free, unitary, omnilateral, and quality education, proposing a break between thinking and doing, between theory and practice, it is an important step towards the formation of ethical, autonomous, critical individuals, with higher self- esteem, prepared for the world of work. In this sense, this research is inserted within the discussions about work and education, with the question: What changes in life did the PROEJA in Commerce of IFFar - Júlio de Castilhos Campus promote to the egresses? Were their expectations met? And, from this, the objectives were outlined, as follows: General objective: To analyze the professional trajectory and the life changes that the PROEJA in Commerce, of IFFar - Júlio de Castilhos Campus, promoted to the egresses. Specific objectives: Recognize whether the course has contributed or not to the professional and personal life of egresses; Identify the challenges faced by egresses upon completing the course and entering the world of work; Identify whether the objectives of PROEJA have been achieved by the institution and assist in the reflection of possible processes of rethinking the actions developed; Develop an educational product in order to disseminate to the academic community the results presented from the research, highlighting the conceptions of egresses, as to life changes that the course has promoted. The research is qualitative in nature with the use of bibliographic, documental, and field research with questionnaires and interviews. The data analysis was carried out in the light of the textual discourse analysis (TDA). The graduates brought to light important issues to understand the changes in their lives and the focus on the value of education. Elementary school was done in public schools by 100% of the graduates surveyed, 17 in EJA/supplementary and 14 in regular school. Of the 31 graduates, 7 have a college degree and 5 are in progress; and of the 19 who don't have a college degree, 4 intend to do so and 3 have interrupted it. They conquered, through education in Professional High School, besides the relationship with the world of work, improvement in the full meaning of life, such as self-esteem, satisfaction and personal fulfillment, as well as autonomy with improved world reading and critical/ethical sense. Empowerment is the big secret of PROEJA. We consider that PROEJA in question integrates the dimensions of human life and has provided a better understanding of reality in the environment in which they live, through the access to knowledge as a right, empowering the awareness of the subjects in the search for a transformed and fairer society.