Educa Mais Bahia encourages territoriality and expands the learning process in the cocoa region

A series of actions developed in the state education network has been increasing students’ time in school units for comprehensive training. These are initiatives such as Educa Mais Bahia, a program that integrates the strategies of the State Education Secretariat (SEC), focusing on learning management and student insertion in the job market, always linked to the curriculum and the peculiarities of the territory in which they belong. of students.

The Chocolate Nelson Schaun Professional Education Center (CEEP), in Ilhéus, is an example of how public policies can contribute to socioeconomic transformations, by bringing education closer to the professional field. Taking into account the region’s potential for the cocoa industry, the equipment values ​​and promotes the vocation of Ilhéus and the region in chocolate production, strengthening and encouraging the entire production chain. Students literally get their hands dirty on the Agroindustry course at Fábrica Escola de Chocolate, which, since 2018, has trained 330 chocolatiers. For a month now, students have also had access to the baking workshop, which is an opportunity to add value to the offer of products and services for future entrepreneurs.

“The baking course is an option that will attract even more consumer attention, linking it with the offer of the filling that is so famous in the region. I look forward to the start of my internship at the chocolate factory”, says 3rd year high school student, Marize Lopes, 19 years old.

His colleague Tainá Santana, 18 years old, already knows the complete cycle of chocolate production, from roasting the beans to the creation and production of packaging. For her, baking will further improve opportunities for the region known for the quality of its chocolate. “We are already a reference in the Professional Education project developed by the Government of Bahia, in a teaching and learning process that values ​​knowledge and practice. Now, we are opening up the range of options even further with the baking workshop, which already has 70 students enrolled. Our objective is to transform it into a long-term course, using the equipment to set up a bakery, which was recently donated to the institution”, explained CEEP manager, Julierme Barros.

At CEEP Chocolate Nelson Schaun, high school is 100% technical and the workshops are taught by independent professionals from the region. In addition to working in the chocolate production process, students are also encouraged to undertake entrepreneurship and enter the job market, in a sector that in the South of Bahia alone already has around 120 brands of origin. The institution also offers courses in the areas of logistics, theater, electromechanics, tour guide and accommodation. All workshops are set up, focusing on the cocoa economy and its tourist and cultural appeal. This is the third largest CEEP in the state in terms of physical structure.

Source: Ascom/SEC