EDUCATION PROJECTS: THE ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY IN REDUCING INEQUALITY THROUGH INTERACTION WITH PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Abstract

This article analyzes the potential of approximation and dialogue between private higher education and public schools in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo, through extension projects, focusing on the Aluno Nota Dez Project, aiming at the equalization of educational opportunities and the mitigation of social inequalities. The research, of a qualitative and descriptive nature, used literature review and document analysis, in addition to interviews with 7 teachers and 2 managers participating in the project. The results show that the initiative contributes significantly to the students' personal and professional growth, promoting a sense of belonging to the academic environment and offering scholarships. The project's expansion, with the use of hybrid and online modalities, proved to be an effective strategy to overcome barriers of distance and time. The adoption of Project-Based Learning (PBL) proved fruitful, generating contextualized learning and a sensitive view of young people towards their realities. It is concluded that the university-public school interaction, mediated by projects, is a relevant path for strengthening basic education, breaking symbolic barriers, and reducing exclusion through education.