Política e governança educacional: Contradições e desafios na promoção da cidadania

Abstract

Política e governança educacional: Contradições e desafios na promoção da cidadania [Educational Policy and Governance: Contradictions and challenges in promoting citizenship]. Guimarães-Iosif, R. (Org.) (2012). Brasília, DF: Universa-Liber Livro. 281 pp. Uncertainty is one word to describe one of the most arresting features of the educational policy of today in Brazil. This indefiniteness arises directly from within the educational model adopted in this country which has declared education a constitutional civil right. However, the implementation of this right is often in conflict with varied interests of different groups that are opposed to it. It is clear, however, that Brazilian educational policy, in turn, is affected by some aspects that distinguish the set of contemporary educational policies, which are: the constant changes and disappearing borders of a globalized world, the emergence of various social groups with distinct objectives and interests, and the adoption of markedly neoliberal policies promoted by international organizations.In this scenario, characterized by uncertainness and partisan interests, gaps appear, authority vacuums obfuscate real needs and turn almost all actions into complex matters in seeking the implementation of public policies in education. Furthermore, emancipation becomes almost unattainable for most citizens. It is from this scenario that is lacking in academic publications on these issues, that the book Política e Governança Educacional: Contradições e desafios na promoção da cidadania [Educational Policy and Governance: Contradictions and challenges in promoting citizenship] draws inspiration and addresses such matters as who truly governs education in Brazil? What actors decide the direction of public policy in local, national, and global educational contexts? What kind of citizenship is promoted by the current hegemonic model of educational governance? How is decided what areas of knowledge to be prioritized and how much space is given to social issues within this current globalized and neoliberal model of public management?This book draws its roots from the Seminário Internacional em Política e Governança Educacional para a cidadania, diversidade, direitos humanos e meio ambiente [International Seminar on Educational Policy and Governance for citizenship, diversity, human rights and the environment] that occurred in 2011 and was organized by the Graduate Program in Education at the Universidade Católica de Brasília (UCB). The book brings together works by Brazilian and Canadian scholars and UCB graduate students that are concerned about the current state of educational policy and governance. It is divided into eleven chapters grouped into three parts, where the first two emphasize topics related to educational policies, governance, and practices and the third represents a tour de force by the organizer in collaboration with other researchers who seek to summarize the essence of the preceding discussions and indicate other possible research avenues that may result from...