Estudantes com doença crônica e/ou deficiência com comorbidade: escolarização e proposta de formação docente

Abstract

Over the past thirty years, important laws have been created for the protection and maintenance of the rights of children and youth, with an emphasis on education and health. Specialized Education Services, contemplating the educational needs of people with disabilities in a school, hospital or home environment, when absent from school, must be highlighted. However, the educational needs of students with chronic diseases have not been met, often due to the lack of knowledge of the school team in dealing with their conditions. This study aims to analyze the actions in the organization of municipal schools in a city within the state of São Paulo, during the period of school leave and in the return of students after leave for health treatment for a chronic disease and/or disability with comorbidity. It also intended to elaborate, implement and evaluate a teacher training program with regard to the schooling of these students. Therefore, the study consisted of three stages: 1 – Analysis of documents from public agencies to identify students with chronic disease and/or disability with comorbidity. Among the documents for data collection, 58 schools received an online questionnaire requesting specific information about students in those conditions, referring to the school years of 2017, 2018 and 2019. Thirty-three schools responded to the questionnaire; 2 – Administration of interview scripts to managers, principals and teachers who had contact with these students throughout their professional trajectories, to verify the actions taken to provide academic learning opportunities for students. This stage had nine participants; 3 – Teacher training program within the framework of Collaborative Research, to provide opportunities for the exchange of experiences and construction of knowledge about the schooling of students in those conditions. Fourteen teachers participated in this stage. The study concluded that there is no systematized record for mapping these students in the health and education system of the municipality surveyed. The questionnaire results from municipal schools revealed that there is a greater number of enrollments of students with chronic disease than of those with disabilities with comorbidity, and that the health condition brought harm to their schooling process, especially in terms of attendance. Through the interviews, some actions were identified by teachers, principals and management of the Municipal Department of Education (MDE), during student leave, such as: sending printed activities to family members, remote classes through applications (WhatsApp), and the offer of home pedagogical care, in a case of disability with comorbidity. Those actions certainly contribute to keep the students' bonds with the school, even if they still leave gaps in the schooling process. When these students return to school, after their leaves, there is compensation for content and welcoming actions, with a focus on the diversity of health conditions. With the data arising from the preparation and implementation of the teacher training program, it was possible to systematize action plans during the absences and on the return of students to school, as well as to prepare a letter to be sent to the MDE and the Municipal Health Department (MHD) with actions to enable the development of public policies. The participants rated the program as very satisfactory, arising knowledge on the subject and reflection on teaching practice. It is worth stressing the importance of the study for a better understanding of the needs of these students and for guaranteeing their right to continue the schooling process.