Direct Money in School Program - sustainable schools, in a municipality of the state of Bahia: contributions, challenges and expectations

Abstract

Direct Money in School Program - Sustainable Schools is a federal government program linked to the National Fund for Education Development, which provides financial support in order to foster socio-environmental sustainability in primary schools from three interrelated dimensions: management, curriculum and space. This paper aimed to evaluate the implementation of the Direct Money in School Program - Sustainable Schools in 41 public schools in a municipality of the State of Bahia, highlighting the contributions concerning to physical space, management  and curricular implementation of the environmental matter, as well as the challenges and perspectives for the realization of the school as a sustainable educator space, according to the National Sustainable Schools Program. Adopting a qualitative and descriptive approach, with the support of the quantitative analysis, it were used as methodological instruments documentary analysis, interview and in loco observation. It were interviewed the servant responsible for monitoring the execution of the financial resources released, the pedagogical advisor of the Municipal Education Department and the pedagogical managers and coordinators of each schooland coordinators of each school. The documentary analysis was based on the evaluation of the Action Plan, the Minutes, the Accountability and the Political Pedagogical Project. It was also carried out the in loco observation, with the objective to compare the data obtained through the interview and the documentary analysis with the local reality. According to analysis, the greatest obstacle to the effectiveness of this Program was the lack of capacity building, and this preparation of professionals is essential for a better applicability of resources, as well as greater involvement in the program. Furthermore, there was a lack of articulation between the Management, Curriculum and Physical Space strands, an important aspect to consolidate social and environmental sustainability in the school environment according to the principles of the National Sustainable Schools Program.