Escola Viva Program in the State of the Espírito Santo: reflections on educational management

Abstract

This article aims to discuss educational management in the State of Espírito Santo, starting in 2015 with the implementation of the Escola Viva Program within the public education network of Espírito Santo, structured by the Institute of Educational Co-responsibility (ICE), a private non-profit entity. A public-private partnership was established in the State of Espírito Santo, sponsored by the Non-Governmental Organization Espírito Santo em Ação. Through this partnership, actions have been implemented with the intention of promoting the quality of teaching and learning in the public school. From the methodological point of view, the research was based on literature review and analysis of primary and secondary sources related to the Escola Viva Program. It concluded that the management model proposed by the Program dialogues with the ideals of neoliberalism and the Third Way. Thus, democratic management, although legally prescribed for the public network, has been reconfigured. At the same time, the idea that the public school is inefficient is naturalized and, therefore, its management should be based on guiding principles of the business world, such as utilitarianism, competition and meritocracy, under the mantra that this new model will ensure effectiveness in public management. Therefore, both democratic management and conquered social and political rights have been threatened or subordinated to the foundations of economic rationality.