Educação de jovens e adultos no ensino médio: desafios frente ao perfil juvenil contemporâneo

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the current realities of students and teachers in Brazil’s Youth and Adult Education program (Educação de Jovens e Adultos – EJA), considering its broader historical and educational context. Particular attention was given to the socioeconomic and educational profiles of students, especially young learners, whose increasing presence in EJA classrooms has contributed to a process of juvenilization within this educational modality. The research also sought to identify the main factors leading students to transfer from mainstream education to EJA. A bibliographic research methodology was employed, supported by a statistical survey of relevant educational data and current legislation. The collected documentation was analyzed through a literature review framework, drawing primarily on the theoretical contributions of Paulo Freire and Moacir Gadotti, in dialogue with other scholars in the field of adult education. As an educational product arising from the study, a proposal for online teacher training was developed and presented through a prototype episode of the Pedagogiro Podcast, a digital audio program associated with an extension project at the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) and coordinated by Eliasaf Rodrigues de Assis. The initiative is designed to support the continuing professional development of educators working in EJA. The findings underscore the importance of ensuring access to quality education as both a social good and a fundamental right. Furthermore, they highlight the role of EJA in providing young and adult learners with opportunities to resume and complete their education with dignity, professional qualification, and the potential for social transformation.