EDUCATION IN RURAL AREAS IN THE BRAZILIAN BIDWEST: A LANDSCAPE MARKED BY CLOSURES AND SCHOOL SCARCITY

uma realidade permeada por fechamentos e escassez de escolas

Abstract

This study examines the processes of school closures and openings in rural areas in the Central-West region, recognizing their importance as a reflection of ongoing changes in the reconfiguration of the country's rural space. Using data from the National Institute for Educational Studies and Research (INEP), we identified a total of 4,414 school closures in the region from 1999 to 2019. This situation is particularly alarming considering the already scarce availability of schools in rural areas of this region. In contrast, we observed only 1,802 school opening processes, a number almost three times lower compared to closures. Therefore, the closure of schools in rural areas in the Central-West goes beyond simply closing doors; it is an attack that undermines the right of rural peoples to access education. These peoples depend on these institutions for educational purposes, but also as centers of political and social integration. In this context, this study aims to analyze the functioning of schools in rural areas in the Central-West region. Thus, this research sheds light on the challenges and complexities faced by Education in and of the rural areas in the Central-West region, taking into account the social and economic implications of school closure and opening processes.