Escola no estabelecimento prisional de Aveiro: uma oportunidade ainda mais comprometida em tempo de pandemia de COVID-19

Abstract

This research results from the work as a teacher of the Aveiro Schools Group (AEA) working in the Aveiro Prison Establishment (EPA), in the education and professional training of prisoners who attend Adult Education and Training Courses (EFA), at the different levels. B1, B2, B3 and Secondary. This is a qualitative research, which followed a methodological approach of approaching Action Research (AI), centred on the EPA case study, in order to know the consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic crisis in the organization, management and development of inmates’ school activities. As techniques for collecting and producing data, semi-structured interviews with trainees, teachers, trainers and the direction of the EPA were privileged; records of the direct interactions of the researcher with the EPA population (in the visits area of the Prison facility, separated by the acrylic glass window); records of the inmates autonomous work activities, mediated by EPA’s Direction. As a technique for analysing and processing data, content analysis of all the information collected, was privileged. The results reveal the existence of further constraints in the organization and management of the educational resources applied to the teaching activities in a prison environment, far outreaching the limitations already existing in a non-pandemic context.