THE FEDERAL INSTITUTES: THE CHALLENGES AND THOSE WHO WERE CHALLENGED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A QUALITY EDUCATION

THE CHALLENGES AND THOSE WHO WERE CHALLENGED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A QUALITY EDUCATION

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the main challenges and risks impacting the continued existence of Federal Institutes (IFs), based on the reflections of Professor Gaudêncio Frigotto and the theoretical framework of EPT. The specific objectives are to describe the implications of recent educational reforms, particularly those of secondary education, and the effects of underfunding resulting from restrictive fiscal policies on the functioning and educational mission of IFs. The methodological procedures adopted were a bibliographical and documentary analysis of laws and published articles, combined with a critical review of videos, interviews, and texts by Frigotto, complemented by a survey of data on public policies and budgets allocated to Federal Institutes from 2014 to 2024. The results indicate that, despite the relevance and social role of Federal Institutes in democratizing access and providing comprehensive education, these institutions face significant challenges, such as recurring budget cuts, pressures for strict alignment with the labor market, threats to institutional autonomy, and attempts to distort their identity. The study highlighted that defending Federal Institutes requires not only adequate resources and infrastructure, but also the preservation of their original pedagogical project, based on the integration of science, culture, technology, and citizenship development, resisting austerity policies and reductionist views of education.