Tem preto de jaleco branco? ações afirmativas na Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Alagoas

Abstract

The research presents an assessment on the Affirmative Actions Program – “PAAF” (“Programa de Ações Afirmativas” in the Brazilian Portuguese abbreviation), being currently developed at the Medical School of the Federal University of Alagoas State – UFAL, after 10 years since its implementation back in 2005. Besides identifying the progress made on this path and with the measures taken by the educational institution, this thesis had as a main objective the analysis of which limits or challenges persist, according to the perception of managers and/or implementation makers of the policy in question, as well as of teachers and students taking part in such course. In order to accomplish that, the following specific goals were selected: 1) identifying the institutional strategies based on the regulation in accordance with the four axes of the program (quotas, admittance and permanence, scientific production and formation) and, also, based on the specific actions of the Medical School regarding the race issue concerning the black population in the state of Alagoas; and 2) assessing the reaches of this policy and transformations caused by PAA” in the university environment. This investigation, sustained upon the epistemological, pedagogical and political gramscian perspective, in the field of (public) educational policy research, prioritized the discussion about the correlation of Brazilian Government forces beginning with the neo-liberal measures taken in the years 1990s which, having chosen to invest and legitimize the expansion of this segment via privatization, associated with the terest of capital, has collaborated with the dismantling of the public network (CUNHA (1986, 1989, 1999, 2004, 2007); FÁVERO (2000, 2006, 2009); SGUISSARDI (2006); FRIGOTTO (1996, 2011); ARRECTHE (2000, 2001, 2015); SOUZA (2003, 2004, 2007); DRAIBE, (2007); LEHER (1999, 2003, 2007, 2008)). Regarding the racial relations and the affirmative actions, this thesis presents as theoretical foundations the references from (SOUZA (1983); SCHWARCZ (1999, 2006, 2012); FERNANDES (1978, 1980); GUIMARÃES (2002, 2003, 2006); MUNANGA (1995, 2003; 2005; 2007); MUNANGA; GOMES (2006); SILVÉRIO (2007), DAFLON; CAMPOS; FERES JÚNIOR (2013, 2014). The governmental regulation legislating on the domain of superior education in Brazil as well as on the domain of how to design the positive policy are both basal references in this case study. Besides the literature review, the methodology assumes the qualitative approach, composed of: a) documental analysis, with a mapping of the actions developed; b) survey application (online) to the students of the Medical School; and c) interviews with 7 professionals currently working or who have previously worked as managers, professors or implementation professionals in this program. As the policy evaluated is still in the process of being implemented, the results are not conclusive, but they show tendencies that will help make the needed adjustments in the process. As to what could be evaluated, in a participative fashion, in a critic-transformative approach (CARVALHO, 2001; SAUL, 2001; SMEKE; OLIVEIRA, 2009), there is an agreement amongst the people who were interviewed regarding the progress made, centralized not just around the increase of people admitted in the program and being benefited by the university quotas, due to the growth of percentage of reserved places from 20% (2005) to 40% (2015), but also due to more dialogue about prejudice and racial discrimination, in Alagoas society, notably traditional and elitist. Amongst the suggestions made, the highlight is on the necessity of a real investment in new antiracist actions that may guarantee a broader visibility on the activities in behalf of the black people inclusion in circles of power, prioritizing incentives in the axes of research and extension, and, along with that, that may broaden the communication and break the barriers that still persist between University and School, between University and the Black Movement, between University and Media, and between University and Work Environment.