O atendimento à educação infantil na prefeitura de Belo Horizonte: um caso de gestão em rede

Abstract

This article analyzes the adoption of a network management model in the provision of Early Childhood Education (Kindergarten) within the scope of the Municipal Department of Education of Belo Horizonte (SMED, in Portuguese). The Belo Horizonte City Hall (PBH, in Portuguese), through its Secretary of Education, offers educational services for children aged 0 to 5 years, the cycle of childhood called Early Childhood Education. With the promulgation of the 1988 Constitution, and the publication of the National Education Guidelines and Bases Law in 1996, the municipalities' responsibility to offer this level of education was clearly defined. The Organic Law of the Municipality published in 1989 followed the definitions established at the federal level. In this context PBH/SMED have built the necessary structures to meet the demand for vacancies. One of the paths followed was the strengthening of partnerships. Existing since the 1970s, they were established with sectors of the civil society, non-profit private entities, to enhance the service offer. The management of these partnerships can be characterized as Network Management. Some characteristics of this model, such as interorganizational management, flow of resources, services and information are present in the way which the offer of Early Childhood Education (Kindergarten) is structured. The qualitative approach was the chosen methodology.