Program offers educational support for students in the capital.

Sergipe 247 Education is one of the most important pillars in the pursuit of a more conscious and egalitarian society, especially when we refer to the development and learning of people who are still in social and intellectual formation. With this in mind, the City Hall of Aracaju, in partnership with the Federal Government, has invested in the Novo Mais Educação Program, aimed at students in municipal schools.

The program, which began in 2012, offers 2.080 elementary school students daily reinforcement in Portuguese and Mathematics, subjects in which students generally find it most difficult to keep up. In addition to conventional subjects, the program also offers artistic and sporting activities that allow students to participate in a dynamic and interdisciplinary school environment.

Despite existing for almost five years, the Program had not yet undergone an evaluation that could demonstrate the results achieved. Therefore, during this year, the students were closely monitored to obtain a consistent diagnosis containing necessary information about their performance. Data was collected showing the students' deficiencies and levels, as a way to address these difficulties in the next school year.

Inductor

The New More Education program emerged not only with the intention of offering better quality education for children, but also as a driver of full-time education in the municipal education network. Proof of this is the seven-hour daily routine that students spend at school, where they receive three complete meals and are accompanied by teachers and staff.

According to Patrícia Tavares da Cruz, a pedagogical technician at the Municipal Education Secretariat (Semed), although the Program is a very important initiative, especially for the most needy students and those with learning difficulties, even more investment would be needed to broaden its reach. "Children who are in the process of becoming literate and in more vulnerable situations have priority in the selection for the program, because currently we do not have the capacity to serve everyone," says the technician.

Therefore, when considering the expansion of the Program, costs must also be taken into account. Currently, the Federal Government provides a portion of the funds allocated to the New More Education Program, but this is insufficient and is supplemented by resources from municipal coffers.

Importance

It becomes an almost uncomplicated task to profile students in public schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods of the city: generally Black, from lower classes, and immersed in a social reality that is hardly conducive to full dedication to education. Given this, the Program becomes even more important when implemented in these vulnerable communities.

For Silvana dos Santos, director of the Papa João Paulo II Municipal School, located in the Santa Maria neighborhood, the intention is to work with these children who do not have the financial means to have extra support outside of school and/or family support. "Out of 700 students, we take 140 out of the possibility of being on the streets, in situations involving drug trafficking, violence, being at home alone or on the street. So we welcome these children, extend their time at school with quality education, and help improve their learning outcomes in the morning. When I ask them, they immediately tell me that they didn't know how to do math, that they didn't know how to read the questions, but that now they do," she says.

The students who benefit from this program feel the same way. Despite the typical restlessness of childhood, they all follow the classes attentively and recognize the importance of this support.

 "We learn, play, and reinforce Portuguese and Math. Some people are difficult to teach. I myself had difficulty doing math, but now I'm managing," says Eduardo Santos, a 10-year-old student.

It is also worth noting that a large proportion of the teachers who teach in these schools are undergraduate students or retired veterans who have volunteered to be in the classroom. Each of them receives only a stipend.

According to Portuguese teacher Anderson Nunes, the learning process ends up being mutual and very rewarding. For him, recognizing his role in the students' development makes him feel more professionally fulfilled. "The principal [Silvana] needed help with the children, and I volunteered because I know they need it a lot, and I'm here to do my best," he says.

Check out the participating schools in the Program in Aracaju:

EMEF José Carlos Teixeira

EMEF Elias Montalvão

EMEF Prof. Florentino Menezes

EMEF Prof. Maria Carlota de Melo

EMEF Prof. Diomedes Santos Silva

EMEF Pope John Paul II

EMEF Arthur Bispo do Rosário

EMEF Juscelino Kubitschek

EMEF President Tancredo Neves

EMEF General Freitas Brandão

EMEF Presidente Vargas

EMEF Marechal Henrique Teixeira Lott

EMEF Zalda Gama

EMEF Oviêdo Teixeira

EMEF Manoel Bomfim

EMEF Sérgio Francisco

EMEF Sabino Ribeiro

EMEF Rachel Côrtes Rollemberg

EMEF Prof Alcebíades Melo Vilas Boas

EMEF Deputado Jaime Araújo

EMEF João Teles Menezes

With advice