Initial training of mathematics teachers in Brazil in the 21st century: policies and statistics

Abstract

The initial training of mathematics teachers is discussed based on the comparison of statistics from undergraduate courses in Brazil with the reports of a sample of teacher educators. Methodologically, this research presents a study that made use of descriptive statistics to collect and analyze data from Brazilian higher education in the period between 2000 and 2019 from a documentary research and thematic analysis to analyze semi-structured interviews carried out with a non-probabilistic sample of PIBID course coordinators and subproject coordinators. The results show that the growth of vacancies was not accompanied by the increase in tickets, which increased idle vacancies. In the private sector, it was found that there is a substitution of the face-to-face modality for the remote modality. This modality even grew more than face-to-face, surpassing it in 2007 and becoming the preferred teaching modality for the training of mathematics teachers in Brazil. The survey participants interviewed had very positive opinions about PIBID, indicating that it reduces dropout and idle vacancies, but does not impact student retention in the course. Comparing these reports with the statistical data shows that, despite being necessary, the PIBID was not enough. In addition to not serving all students, this policy does not consider extrinsic factors that impact the attractiveness of the teaching career, such that structural changes in schools and in the working conditions of teachers are requirements for an improvement in the training of mathematics teachers.

Keywords/Palabras clave:
Teacher training; PIBID; EAD; University education; Public policy