Violence is responsible for the interruption of classes in 669 public schools in the country

In 2021 alone, violence was responsible for the interruption of classes in 669 public schools in the country, as a result of shootings, theft, vandalism, threats and attacks, among other factors, imposing irreparable damage to the learning process of thousands of students.

This is the conclusion of the 17th Brazilian Public Security Yearbook, released this Thursday (20th), by the Brazilian Public Security Forum, whose data were collected through a questionnaire completed by school directors for Prova Brasil 2021, an evaluation system developed by the Ministry of Education.

The study showed that the number of schools forced to suspend classes, due to violence, represents 0.9% of the national total. For researchers, however, more than the percentage of cases, the most important thing is the alert they bring to the seriousness of the insecurity situation in the country.

For the Forum consultant, Cauê Martins, “it is very alarming that 669 schools had to stop their activities, this means that thousands of students have not been able to study due to the risk of being victims of violence. It is a very serious violation of the rights of these children and adolescents”.

In this regard, Martins draws attention to the growing trend in the number of schools with interrupted classes, which was accentuated last year and this year. While in 2021, there were two attacks against schools, in 2022, there were six, a number already reached, in 2023, in just four months.

“The 2021 data still does not reflect this violence that has unprecedentedly hit schools in recent months. We saw a wave of threats, which disrupted the operation of these establishments across the country. It is very likely that the number of schools with interrupted classes will be much higher in 2022”, concludes the Forum consultant.

Among the findings of the study, the recognition of the fact that urban violence has affected the school environment, currently victimizing 40% of schools in Rio de Janeiro, corresponding to 269 work stoppages activities. It is also regrettable to know that the state has the most schools affected by shootings or stray bullets, since, of the 1,295 units that reported similar cases in the country, practically half (586) correspond to the public network fluminense.

“School, in Rio de Janeiro, is an institution that is almost eight times more dangerous to attend and where people suffer the most. by the crossfire between police and criminals, compared to other states in Brazil", points out the report of the Forum.

Of the 7,156 invaded schools, according to the survey, 11,991 registered robberies or thefts and 14,544 were the target of vandalism. “These are situations in percentages that are not consistent with the idea of ​​the school as a safe space and a protective environment. Those who think that violence is a circumscribed problem are mistaken”, assesses the report, revealing that more than a third of public schools (37.6%) report situations of bullying, 15% with cases of discrimination and 2.3% with sexual harassment.