Formação em contexto na educação infantil: uma parceria em busca da melhoria da qualidade de uma creche municipal de Fortaleza

Abstract

Although knowing that many economic, political and administrative factors are related to the low standard of quality of many Early Childhood Education institutions in Brazil, we raised the hypothesis that the continuing education programs, often characterized as a “school model” (FERREIRA, 2000), are not offering an effective contribution to transforming teachers’ pedagogic practices which are an important factor in the quality of day-cares and pre-schools. We infer, therefore, that a contextual continuing education model may bring about changes which improve the quality of these institutions. This research examined the contribution of a contextual continuing education model, which was developed considering the results of an evaluation process, to improving the quality of a day-care. For the theoretical background related to teacher’s professional education, we selected the perspectives of Nóvoa (2008, 2007, 1997) and Schön (1997). The literature review included authors as Zabalza(1998), Dahlberg, Moss and Pence ( 2003) and Oliveira-Formosinho and Formosinho among many others. The research, characterized as qualitative, selected and action and collaborative approach and it was developed in a municipal day care, where we chose the subjects: four teachers and the program chairman. The fieldwork was developed into four stages: 1) the diagnosis of the quality of the day care, by applying the Evaluation Environment Scale for Babies and Young Children (ITERS-R); 2) the planning of all activities; 3) the development of the activities planned by the group; 4) the evaluation of the results. We also utilized a resource classified as a “videoformation” by Ibiapina (2008). The results related to the first application of the scale indicated the none of the seven subscale dimensions achieved the score (5) required for being classified as “good “and the dimension which obtained the lowest score was the one called “activities”. The average score of all subscales in this first application was 2.89. In the second application, carried out after the contextual continuing education program, the total average score which was 2.89 raised to 4.13. The results demonstrate that there was a change from an inadequate level to a minimal quality level. The analysis of these results indicate that, although the day care stills remains in a minimal level, it is possible to demonstrate quantitatively some contributions of the contextual education program. Considering the qualitative aspect, which was the focus of this research, we point out the main outcomes: the growing involvement of the staff in the reflexive process; the construction of knowledge related to Early Chiddhood Education by the teachers and the chairman, expressed by means of their comments and questions and the introduction of changes in the day care routine such as: the reorganization of the physical environment; the disposition of materials and toys available to children and the re-structuration of the planning model. The teaachers’ opinions, expressed orally and in a written form revealed a high degree of satisfaction with the contextual education program as well as the conviction that a collaborative work may be effective to promote significative changes in pedagogic practices, contributing in this way to improving the quality of Early Childhood Education institutions.