National movement of education in rural areas? Trajectory in Brazil

Abstract

The aim of this article is to reaffirm the thesis that a “National Movement of Education in rural areas“ is being constituted in Brazil, opposing the historical policies of “Rural Education”. Several factors converge towards the formation of that Social Movement. Its origins are the historical experiences of the Landless Workers Movement and other rural social movements and their organizations. Besides that, the presence of institutions that provide funding such as UNICEF, CNBB (National Conference of Bishops of Brazil) and public universities contribute to the development of this social practice. This “Movement”’ brings innovations to two fundamental fields: in the field of public policies, as social subjects, they change their attitudes towards the State, demanding public education for everyone and, in the pedagogical field, contradictorily, the subjects of Movement, from inside the State, are opposed to the Liberal view of school education. Thus, the concept and practice of Education constitute themselves into objects of social dispute.