Os estudantes do Colégio Técnico da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais : suas expectativas, escolhas e inserção no ensino superior

Abstract

This research is located in the field of Sociology of Education and has as its theme the access to higher education by students of vocational education integrated with the high school. It is based especially on research about educational transitions, former students from vocational courses, career choice, and access to higher education. This is a four­year follow­up longitudinal study of a cohort of 181 students entering the vocational courses integrated with the high school of the Colégio Técnico at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (Coltec/UFMG) in 2019. The main objective is to understand the transition to higher education by students, seeking to investigate since from the aspirations for this level of education, through the process of career choice and reaching the courses finally achieved. The research is justified because the integrated vocational courses offered in federal schools occupy a different place in the Brazilian education system. There were analyzed secondary data collected from national (Platform Nilo Peçanha) and local databases (school enrollment data, data of the selection process for admission to the school, and data from the Dean of Graduate Studies at UFMG) and primary data collected through questionnaires to parents and to students (in three waves). It was found that vocational education is valued, but it does not replace higher education diplomas, that are the main project of students and families. It was noticed that, in general, the desired higher courses are related to the vocational courses taken and they are quite selective courses. The main destination of the cohort after Coltec was the preparatory courses for ENEM, followed by higher education and work in the vocational area. It was identified that 75.7% of the students who entered Coltec finished the third year with approval and within the regular deadline and 24.3% did not complete the third year at Coltec. Of all the students who finished the third year, 55.5% also completed internship and 33.3% entered higher education. These students have a profile with more social benefits, especially higher grades when entering the vocational school. Along the way, the students moved away from the intention of entering higher education courses with a strong relationship with the vocational course. However, 64.8% of the graduating students entered higher education courses in areas related to the vocational course, showing that the curriculum and experience in the vocational school seem to be related to the choices of higher courses. Most of the courses accessed are selective and of great social prestige.