USP proposes return of 2,400 for high school subjects – 07/21/2023 – Education

USP (University of São Paulo) sent a document to the MEC (Ministry of Education) proposing that schools once again allocate 2,400 hours of the school year to regular subjects.

The document was prepared by researchers from the High School Working Group, sponsored by the university’s undergraduate dean. Proposals for changing the new high school were sent on July 6, the deadline for the public consultation promoted by the federal government on the subject.

Approved in 2017, the new secondary education law increased the workload of this stage from 2,400 hours to 3,000 hours. However, it limited the part of the common disciplines to 1,800 hours, so that the rest can be complemented with elective disciplines.

As shown by Sheet, students have complained that these new subjects are taking the time away from traditional content. Instead of regular subjects, they have classes, for example, “how to become a millionaire”.

The USP researchers propose that the MEC establish that the curricula allocate 2,400 hours to the fundamental curricular components. “The diversified part would fit 600 hours, organized in such a way as to contemplate the interests of young people and deepen their knowledge”, says the document.

They also argue that significant changes in the quality of secondary education depend on structural changes in schools, with appreciation of teachers, improvement in infrastructure, reduction in the number of students per class and student engagement.

“The consequence of trying to implement an apparently ambitious project without the minimum conditions is one of the factors that supports the perception that this New High School was not designed for the context of the reality of the vast majority of Brazilian public schools”, points out the report.

For the researchers, in order to obtain success with any educational reform, curricular changes are not enough, but structuring public policies that meet the needs of the education networks.

Thus, they propose, for example, that a minimum of 50% of the teacher’s workday be paid with time for studies, collective planning and carrying out extracurricular activities. They also suggest the formulation of a salary enhancement policy with a career plan for all education professionals.

They also defend a limit of 30 students per class, improvement of school infrastructure and a permanence policy for students enrolled in full-time schools.