A efetividade das ações e programas de assistência estudantil na trajetória de estudantes do Curso de Pedagogia da UFAM

Abstract

The debate surrounding the challenges faced by young people,especially those from lower-income backgrounds,who have accessed higher education in recent decades takes place within a long-standing and contested field. This dispute centers on the democratization of conditions for student retention and the mitigation of the effects of social inequalities on access to higher education in Brazil. The main objective of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of student assistance actions and programs in supporting the retention of students enrolled in the Pedagogy course at UFAM. The central research question guiding the study was: How effective are student assistance actions and programs in ensuring the retention of students in the Pedagogy course at UFAM? Data collection was carried out through field research with students enrolled in the Pedagogy course at the Faculty of Education, UFAM/Manaus, from both morning and afternoon sessions. The methods used included a closed-ended questionnaire and a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were conducted with five students who had previously completed the questionnaire and agreed to participate in this second stage. Given the nature of the research topic and objectives, the data were analyzed using a qualitative approach. A total of 22 students from the morning and afternoon sessions of the Pedagogy course at UFAM participated in the study. Due to difficulties in accessing students during class hours, the questionnaires were also distributed online. Of the participants, 13 were female and 9 were male, with 82% aged between 18 and 24. All participants were involved in some form of student assistance action or program. The findings of the study highlight the crucial role of student assistance actions and programs in supporting the continued enrollment of many students in higher education. Specifically, within the context of the Pedagogy course, the data collected indicate that many students come from low-income families and still rely financially on their parents.