The Limitations of Brazilian Basic Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

In December 2019, the world's first case of COVID-19 was reported in China. In March 2020, due to this disease, schools began to be closed in Brazil. The present study aimed to verify, from the perspective of Brazilian basic education teachers, whether Brazilian education was prepared for all this conjuncture caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In order to investigate this issue, a structured questionnaire was applied to a maximum possible number of teachers. The dissemination of the study lasted between June and August 2020, via Facebook and Instagram, and was intended to interview a convenience sample of at least 500 teachers. It was identified that most of them were not prepared for the emergency remote teaching (ERT) and that they did not have an adequate work structure in their homes for their actions. In addition, they reported that most students would not participate or did not participate in the ERT and expressed fear about the possibility of agglomerations and contamination by COVID-19 in schools, as well as anxiety and concern about the ERE. It is suggested that the analyzed context is sufficient to promote emotional exhaustion and work overload. It is intuitive to conclude that it is necessary for government agencies to develop monitoring policies close to teachers, instituting psychological monitoring programs, as well as to create training policies in technological tools on an ongoing basis and to resume more investment policies in education, improving teaching and learning processes, as well as in reducing risks of worsening the working conditions of teachers.

Keywords: Education. COVID-19. Pandemic.