Núcleo de Estudos Afro-Brasileiros e Indígenas: contribuições para a prática educativa antirracista na Educação Profissional e Tecnológica

Abstract

Racism against the Black population is a deeply rooted phenomenon in society, based on a racial hierarchy that perpetuates oppression and inequality. Consequently, the school environment reproduces this structural racism. In this context, the Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous Study Centers (Núcleos de Estudos Afro-brasileiros e Indígenas - NEABIs) play a significant role in educational institutions by contributing to the implementation of mechanisms that promote racial equality in student education, particularly in the development of educational practices. This research aimed to understand how NEABIs contribute to the development of anti-racist educational practices in Professional and Technological Education (PTE). The main theoretical sources of the study were: Freire (2009), Saviani (2007), Zabala (2014), Ciavatta (2005), Gomes (2017), Almeida (2019), Carine (2023), and Fernandes (2014). The study is linked to the research line Educational Practices in PTE and is part of Macroproject 2: Inclusion and diversity in formal and non-formal education spaces in PTE. Regarding the methodology, this is a qualitative research study, descriptive and exploratory in nature. Data were collected through document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and focus groups with NEABI members, including coordinators, faculty, and students from three campuses of the Federal Institute of Education, Science, and Technology of Maranhão (Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Maranhão - IFMA). The research results, analyzed using Bardin’s (2016) content analysis method, demonstrate that the educational practices developed by NEABIs have the potential to raise awareness, foster critical reflection on ethnic-racial issues, and contribute to a more inclusive education that values diversity. The findings reveal the positive impact of these centers' actions on the formation of both faculty and students, providing them with enriching experiences and expanding their knowledge and literacy on racial topics, as well as promoting the appreciation of Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous cultures. Based on the results, an educational product was developed in the form of an informational guide titled Anti-Racist Educational Practices: A Guide Based on NEABI Actions for PTE Implementation. The product aims to contribute to the development and expansion of educational practices in their social and pedagogical dimensions, effectively incorporating anti-racist education as outlined in Law No. 10.639/2003.