ANALYSIS OF THE LEVEL OF KNOWLEDGE AND MOTIVATION OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TOWARD HIGHER EDUCATION: PROJECT “DIALOGUES ON WHICH MEANS STUDYING ENGINEERING”

Abstract

The population with higher education in developed countries is greater than in developing countries. Such index represents the technological advancement and the development of a country. Brazil is above the world average, with a rate of 30% of its population with higher education, ahead of developing countries, but far from the average of the developed ones. To reverse this scenario, the Brazilian government has invested in infrastructure by expanding the access and the permanence policies in higher education. However, factors such as lack of information and motivation are barriers to these actions, particularly for low-income students. By taking into account this perspective, the  PET group, a tutorial education program, "The Diffusion of Scientific Thought as a Tool for Citizenship" visited schools in the municipality of Ouro Branco, in the State of Minas Gerais, to develop the project "Dialogues on Studying Engineering". This initiative has as its main objective to deliver informative and motivational lectures to the students of the last year of high school by at promoting the pursuit of their ideals. In the three years the project took place high school students were asked about their interest in pursuing a higher education. Most answered that wanted to enter a Higher Education Institution and many wished to supplement their studies with a post-graduate degree. On the other hand, up to 40% of the students in the evening period intended to take technical courses, or just want to finish high school. Furthermore, high self-confidence in students of private schools and the feeling of self-exclusion of public school students were observed. These analyzes confirm the need for publicizing public higher education.