Rio Chamber debates improvements to the Youth and Adult Education Program

The Permanent Education Committee of the Rio de Janeiro City Council held a public hearing this Tuesday to discuss improvement strategies for the Youth and Adult Education Program (PEJA), highlighting the need for expansion and continuous support for students.

During the public hearing in the parliament plenary, educational and Executive Branch representatives were summoned to address the current conditions and challenges faced by PEJA. Participants emphasized the importance of expanding the program’s hubs and improving outreach and access and retention policies for students.

What do you need to know:

• Urgent demands: Expansion of teaching centers and improvement in the dissemination of the program.
• Challenges identified: Reduction of classes and vacancies, worsened by the pandemic.
• Proposals discussed: Increase in the value of the food card and granting of emergency aid.

Hearing Details and Proposals

During the session, councilors Marcio Santos (PV) and Luciana Boiteux (PSOL) discussed the decline in the number of students and the reduction in classes, a trend that has worried administrators and defenders of the program. Boiteux proposed more robust policies to ensure continuity and student engagement in PEJA.

Perspectives from Professionals and Academics

Enio Serra, professor at UFRJ, highlighted the reduction in the number of schools offering PEJA, noting the negative impacts of closing units in the capital. Serra and other educators argued that such closures compromise access to education and other essential services, such as food, for many students.

Executive Responses and Criticisms

Antoine Azevedo, executive undersecretary of the SME, defended the secretariat’s actions, mentioning efforts to “optimize” classes through mergers, instead of closing them, to better serve where there is demand. However, this strategy was criticized by Diogo Pinheiro do Sepe/RJ, who considered it insufficient and harmful to the most vulnerable students.

Transparency and Community Engagement

The hearing also highlighted the need for greater transparency and community engagement in decisions affecting schools. Samantha Monteiro, public defender, and other participants called on SME to standardize its school restructuring practices and include impact assessments and community feedback in the process.