Avaliação do desempenho de um Centro de Educação Infantil de Fortaleza após adesão ao Selo UAPI

Abstract

This study originated from my experience as a teacher in the Fortaleza Municipal Education Network, specifically at the Moura Brasil Early Childhood Education Center (CEI). I observed the process of implementing the Unit Friend of Early Childhood (UAPI) Seal, an initiative by UNICEF that promotes self-assessment among participating institutions to improve the quality of their services. In 2023, the CEI submitted its self-assessment to the Initiative, with the goal of addressing the issues identified. During my Master's program guidance, several questions emerged that motivated this research: How is the CEI Moura Brasil performing in its provision of Early Childhood Education after the implementation of the UAPI Seal? To answer this question, the following objective was established: to evaluate the performance of CEI Moura Brasil's Early Childhood Education services according to the parameters, guidelines, and indicators of this policy in the context following the implementation of the UAPI Seal. To achieve this objective and address the research problem, a theoretical framework was constructed to provide a significant background before the data collection phase. This framework covered everything from the concept of childhood to legal milestones in education, highlighting the progress and obstacles in consolidating Early Childhood Education policy at both national and local levels. The methodology adopted was an ex-post-facto evaluation with a qualitative approach. Data were collected through the study of regulatory and guiding documents for Early Childhood Education in Brazil, Ceará, and Fortaleza. Additionally, a descriptive analysis and evaluation of qualitative data were conducted based on 7 institutional documents, including the Seal's Baseline and the CEI's Pedagogical Political Project. Interviews were also conducted with the CEI's coordinator, teachers, and mothers, as well as representatives from District 1 of the Fortaleza Municipal Education Secretariat. Finally, an onsite visit to the research field was performed. As a result, we formulated 50 quality indicators for Early Childhood Education to evaluate the services offered at CEI Moura Brasil by interpreting and cross-referencing the collected data. We observed that during the Seal's adhesion process, the CEI improved its performance, especially in the area of pedagogical practices. However, after the Seal's implementation, we identified issues in some indicators, such as those related to democratic management, building structure, and infrastructure.