Go the Distance or Keep Your Distance? Challenges for the Emergency Remote Education in a Brazilian State University

Abstract

In this paper, we discuss the impacts of the pandemic generated by COVID-19 on Brazilian Higher Education, specifically at a State University of Bahia, Brazil. To do so, we present a brief contextualization of the progress of the pandemic in Brazil, in the state of Bahia and in the region where the University is located. We also present the laws and regulations elaborated by different governmental bodies, especially the Ministry of Education, for the continuation of classes, in face-to-face undergraduate courses, by remote means. Despite the initial emphasis of these regulations on the use of Digital Information and Communication Technologies, later there was a flexibility regarding the means for offering the remote classes. As for the case of the University discussed here, the continuation of undergraduate courses’ classes interrupted by the pandemic, via the Emergency Remote Education, was approved on July 9th. We focus specifically on the outline of the student digital inclusion program, which provides scholarships for the acquisition of equipment, internet services and transportation. The results show that the resources allocated to this plan are insufficient, given the socioeconomic low-profile of the students. In addition, many of them live in locations with insufficient or no internet available, as well as are working and/or taking care of people full-time during the pandemic. Thus, the guarantee of access of students to the Emergency Remote Education, as well as the quality of this Education, may not be ensured through this plan.