THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC POLICIES FOR REDUCING SCHOOL DROPOUTS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL II IN RIVERSIDE COMMUNITIES OF PONTA DE PEDRAS (MARAJÓ-PA)

Abstract

School dropout rates represent one of the main challenges facing Brazilian education, especially in socially vulnerable regions, such as the riverside communities of the municipality of Ponta de Pedras, in Marajó, Pará. These areas face significant barriers to student retention, such as long distances traveled by rivers, lack of adequate transportation, a shortage of qualified teachers, a lack of pedagogical resources, and poor school infrastructure. In this context, this research sought to investigate how public policies can contribute to reducing dropout rates in the second cycle of elementary school. A bibliographic and applied approach was used, involving administrators, teachers, and family members, to understand the causes and propose alternatives. The results demonstrated that effective public policies, conceived as state policies, are essential to ensure not only access but also student retention. Valuing education professionals, strengthening school infrastructure, and adopting pedagogical practices contextualized to the Amazonian reality proved to be crucial. It is concluded that school dropout rates, in addition to harming individuals, compromise the development of riverside communities, perpetuating cycles of inequality. Therefore, the effectiveness of public education policies is an indispensable condition for promoting citizenship and social justice.