Studying for what?

The necessary overcoming of the paradigm of a meaningless education

Abstract

This article results from the main ideas of research developed in a master’s thesis by the first author of this article entitled “O impacto da evasão escolar nos níveis de desenvolvimento na região do Alto Vale do Rio do Peixe”. The research was carried out based on bibliographic and statistical data, seeking to understand the relationship between regional underdevelopment and school dropout qualitatively. The study highlights the disconnection of students with education, which is commonly seen as a secondary choice in the face of the need for sustenance, especially in impoverished regions like the one investigated here. Persistent poverty in rural areas, on numerous occasions, forces families to choose between studying or working, which worsens the cycle of school dropout. The article also discusses the importance of contextualized and meaningful education, which is capable of engaging young people and contributing to overcoming the barriers that keep them away from school.