IMPACTOS DA PANDEMIA DE COVID-19 NAS POLÍTICAS EDUCACIONAIS EM GOIÁS: DESAFIOS ESTRUTURAIS, RESPOSTAS EMERGENCIAIS

Abstract

This study, developed in the Graduate Program in Education at Centro Universitário Mais — UniMais, in the research line "Education, Institutions, and Educational Policies," examines the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Brazilian educational policies, focusing on the interactions between emergency responses and the pre- existing structural challenges in the educational system. The general objective was to understand the implications of the educational policies implemented in Goiás during the pandemic, with an emphasis on educational equity and the appreciation of education professionals. The specific objectives were: to analyze the educational scenario in the state, investigate the emergency policies adopted, and evaluate the impacts of these policies in the post-pandemic context. The methodology employed consisted of a qualitative analysis of educational policies and official reports, using a critical approach regarding the influences of neoliberalism in education. The analysis revealed a complex interaction between the rapid adaptation to remote learning, the intensive use of educational technologies, and the exacerbation of existing inequalities in access to education, highlighting the urgent need for structural reforms, especially concerning teacher training and educational financing. Furthermore, the analysis of Goiás' educational policies demonstrated the impact of budgetary restrictions and neoliberal policies, such as the intervention in the State University of Goiás (UEG), which reduced university autonomy, negatively affecting teacher training and teaching quality. Although emergency policies were necessary, they were insufficient to reduce social disparities, revealing ongoing challenges in the valorization of education professionals and educational equity. The effectiveness of the measures adopted, considering the budgetary constraints imposed by Complementary Law No. 173/2020 and controversies over the teachers' salary floor, pointed to the need for a balance between state intervention and market efficiency for a robust and equitable educational recovery. The results underscore the importance of integrating structural reforms into educational policy, comparing international approaches, and considering the impacts of economic and political changes for sustainable and inclusive educational development.