Perfil dos diretores de escolas públicas brasileiras: tendências e aproximações

Abstract

This article aims to contribute to the efforts underway to learn more about school managers and also to identify the changes and continuities in the profile of Brazilian public school principals in the period between 2007 and 2013, based on information collected by an exam called ProvaBrasil/Aneb, specifically through the contextual questionnaires filled out by public school principals. Some important findings are related to the profile of principals, their education and postgraduate training, professional practice, and access to the post of principals. Overall, the direction of schools remains a position occupied mostly by women, but begins to occur an internal movement between the various age groups, with growth of younger principals and reduction of older. It is increasing the participation of principals with diverse higher education courses, with increasing percentages of postgraduate principals and decreasing participation in continuing education; it is also possible to notice an increase in working hours and a reduction in the number of more experienced professionals in office. Regarding the form of choice for post occupation, selective exams; election; and selective exams followed by election are decreasing, while appointment is increasing. These trends must continue to be analyzed because principals are key actors in the school management process and in creating effective learning conditions, the ultimate purpose of education.