Attractiveness of teaching for basic education: a study with freshmen in college courses at the University of São Paulo

Author(s)

Luciana França Leme

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Educação (FE/SBD)
• Defense date: 2012-05-17

Examining board members

Sandra Maria Zakia Lian Sousa; Dalila Andrade Oliveira; Romualdo Luiz Portela de Oliveira

• Advisor: Sandra Maria Zakia Lian Sousa

Abstract

Studies that show low interest in the career of teaching in primary education have been disclosed in the last five years. This fact together with projections indicating that the number of graduates in Brazil will not meet demand for teachers in the next ten years, mainly in the final years of elementary school and high school, has motivated this study. Its goal was to know the profile of entering students in teaching undergraduate courses at the University of São Paulo (Pedagogy, Physics and Mathematics) as well as which factors are important in their decisions to (not) want to become a teacher. It was also investigated whether students of Medicine USP already thought to be elementary school teacher at some point in their lives. Thus, students answered a survey (N = 512) made according to scientific studies examined about teacher labor market, as well as to productions that define the choice of this career being limited to the social and cultural \"baggage\" of the subjects. The comparison of the socioeconomic status of the undergraduates at USP with undergraduate courses in Brazil and other countries showed to be similar, and the performance in the Fuvest tests of these undergraduates was worse not only in relation to medicine, as in all other courses of USP. Teacher training seemed one of the few possible courses for entering in this university to these respondents. Perhaps this fact explains why the undergraduates in physics and mathematics have more interest in entering to post-graduate as well as the significant percentage of students who expressed don´t want to become school teachers or have doubts about it (52% and 48% in Physics in mathematics). Proportion of students who want to be teacher in Pedagogy, although higher (30%), is also worrying. The most influential factors for the freshmen who want to be teacher are similar to those showed in the most scientific productions analyzed: sex (women), course (Pedagogy), age (between 17 and 19 years), salary and subjective factors (positive experiences in the school, altruism, desire for education, social engagement, enjoy children). The most influential factors for not wanting to become teacher, or to have doubts about it, are linked to the current image of the teaching profession (difficulties in working in the bad scholar conditions and lack of autonomy to develop the teaching profession) and low social prestige (including low wages). It is complex analyze the attractiveness of the teaching profession due to the related factors involved, that sometimes are hard to be collected and measured, and should be considered in articulated way in the teacher policies. It seems likely that recognition of the teacher as the only professional who has the knowledge and repertoire of teaching skills to could collaborate to improve the attractiveness of teaching for basic education. Finally, it is defended here that the teaching career needs to be attractive to anyone, implying an appropriate training for the profession performance. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/13421-9 - Attractiveness of teaching for elementary and high school education: a study with freshmen in college courses at University of São Paulo
• Grantee: Luciana França Leme
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master