Política de educação ambiental de Sobral, Ceará: um estudo das suas práticas nas escolas municipais

Abstract

Degrading anthropic action is a constant feature of industrial society and has a number of negative consequences for society's environmental health and safety. Pedagogical interventions aimed at shaping sustainable socioenvironmental behavior are therefore essential. In view of this, this research aims to analyze the pedagogical actions proposed in the Sobral Municipal Environmental Education Plan (PMEAS), developed in the regular elementary school network in the municipality, located in the state of Ceará, in the Northeast region of Brazil. Methodologically, this is an exploratory and explanatory study, using a qualitative approach to understand educational practices and their impacts. The case study was conducted in four primary schools, and data was collected using questionnaires and interviews. The questionnaires were directed at teachers and school coordinators and contained closed questions that addressed practices and perceptions related to Environmental Education. To complement the information, semi-structured interviews were carried out with Sobral's Environmental Education Manager and the principals of the four schools. The interviews sought to gain a deeper understanding of the strategies and challenges faced in implementing environmental education practices. Data analysis follows the content analysis methodology, which allows the information collected to be categorized and interpreted in a systematic way. The categories of analysis were defined based on the collection instruments, providing a clear structure for interpreting the data. The results show that, although there have been important advances in the institutionalization of Environmental Education in the municipality, such as its presence in the schools' Political Pedagogical Projects (PPPs), there are still challenges such as the discontinuity of practices, insufficient teacher training and the lack of coordination between schools and environmental agencies. The research points to the need to strengthen public environmental education policies, with a focus on teacher training, continuous monitoring of school practices and the availability of teaching resources. It is hoped that this study will contribute to the improvement of environmental education actions, providing support for managers, educators and public policy makers.