Students from Pronatec make up 82% in the Knowledge Olympics.
Beneficiaries of the National Program for Access to Technical Education and Employment (Pronatec), from the federal government, represent the vast majority of competitors, according to the event's organizers. The competition, which begins this Wednesday, the 3rd, in Belo Horizonte, is a way to validate the quality of education.
Mariana Tokarnia - Special Correspondent*
The Knowledge Olympics, which begins this Wednesday, the 3rd, in Belo Horizonte, brings together for the first time a large number of beneficiaries of the National Program for Access to Technical Education and Employment (Pronatec). They represent 82% of the competitors, according to the event's organizers. The program is one of the flagship initiatives of the current government, and the competition is a way to validate the quality of education.
During four days of tests, which end on Saturday (6), competitors perform tasks similar to those they would face in real-life work situations. Their performance establishes the standard of excellence for practices in 58 technical occupations, 48 from industry, seven from the service sector and three from agriculture.
The students who reach this stage are those who excelled during classes. They underwent specific training for the competition. Afterwards, they participated in state tournaments and were considered the best in each state. There are Pronatec students in the competition representing delegations from all 26 states and the Federal District.
Of the 726 participants, 597 had completed Initial and Continuing Training (FIC) or mid-level technical courses at the National Service for Industrial Training (Senai), the National Service for Commercial Training (Senac), and federal institutes of Technology.
According to the general director of Senai, Rafael Lucchesi, students benefiting from Pronatec perform similarly to other students. The dropout rate, despite having increased from 5% to 8%, is still low. "There was a small increase in the rate, but also a large increase in the number of students. Pronatec is an important agenda for building citizenship in the country," he says.
"The Olympics are fundamental for student learning and for companies, but the main objective is to show vocational education as a viable option with good pay. Students can enter the job market and can also continue studying if they wish," adds Lucchesi.
According to him, technical training reaches only 7% of the population aged 15 to 19, a rate considered low when compared to the average of around 50% in the countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
*The reporter traveled at the invitation of Senai.