O papel do pedagogo no suporte educacional a crianças e adolescentes no contexto hospitalar em Maceió-AL

Abstract

This study investigates the role of the hospital pedagogue in providing educational support to children and adolescents undergoing medical treatment in the municipality of Maceió, Brazil. The research is based on the understanding that education is a right of all children and adolescents, including those in health treatment, as established by Law No. 13.716/2018. However, the implementation of this right still faces significant barriers, both in the initial training of pedagogues and in the institutional structure. Based on the account of a professional in the field, the study discusses the role of the hospital pedagogue as an agent of care, attentive listening, and the promotion of learning. Their practice goes beyond content teaching, involving methodological adaptation, sensitivity to students’ clinical conditions, and articulation with the healthcare team. The local context analyzed reveals that, although legally guaranteed, hospital educational services in Maceió are still limited and consistently available in only one unit. The adopted methodology was qualitative, based on narrative analysis of a semi-structured interview. The construction of thematic categories allowed the identification of aspects such as the professional's entry into the field, daily work routine, challenges faced, and the effects of the educational support on the lives of hospitalized students. The results indicate that the hospital pedagogue plays a fundamental role in the learning process and in the emotional well being of students undergoing treatment, although challenges persist, such as institutional invisibility, lack of specific training, and limited professional recognition. The final considerations emphasize the importance of consolidating hospital pedagogy as a legitimate field of professional practice, supported by public policies that ensure its presence in all healthcare facilities.