Assistência estudantil do Instituto Federal do Tocantins: um estudo sobre o alcance do eixo de serviços essenciais no campus avançado Formoso do Araguaia

Abstract

This study addresses the scope of the Student Assistance Policy at the Federal Institute of Education, Science, and Technology of Tocantins (IFTO), focusing on essential services at the Advanced Campus of Formoso do Araguaia. The primary objective is to understand the reach of IFTO's Student Assistance Policy (POLAE) during the challenging pandemic period between 2020 and 2022. The study aims to contribute to the continuous improvement of educational policies and practices, provide accountability to regulatory bodies, and ensure transparency in the actions and results of the Student Assistance Policy, making them accessible and understandable for managers, students, and other stakeholders. The research adopted a qualitative- quantitative methodological approach of an applied, statistical nature, with descriptive- analytical purposes, based on bibliographic and documentary studies. The sample consisted of the universe of 344 students. For analysis, a census research approach was complemented by stratified sampling. Data collection utilized qualitative and quantitative variables following guidelines from Bardin's "Content Analysis" for organization and analysis. This process involved coding, decomposition, and categorization of information. Additionally, the study was grounded in the historical- dialectical method, providing a contextualized analysis of the phenomenon under study, considering its historical aspects and its dialectical relationship with the current context. This method helped to reveal the underlying conditions and constitutive connections of the phenomenon, leading to a richer and more detailed understanding essential for proposing transformative actions in the social reality. The results revealed fluctuations in funding for the National Student Assistance Program by the federal government and a worrying trend of declining enrollments in technical courses within the Institute. At the Advanced Campus of Formoso do Araguaia, an increase in the proportion of students eligible for student assistance was observed. Adjustments to the Student Assistance Policy at IFTO resulted in reduced coverage for eligible students, leading to an increase in unmet potential demand. However, approval rates improved, and failure and dropout rates among beneficiary students decreased after the transition from remote to in-person learning. As a practical contribution, a special edition of the Student Assistance Bulletin for the Advanced Campus of Formoso do Araguaia for the years 2020, 2021, and 2022 was prepared, along with a proposal for an annual bulletin for subsequent years. These educational products, presented in infographic format, aim to promote transparency and disseminate information about the initiatives of the Student Assistance Program.