Sustainability in the Integrated High School, Chemistry Technician Program at the Federal Institute of Santa Catarina

Abstract

The recent relationship between humans, society, and nature is characterized by the excessive use of natural resources. Pedagogy and the curriculum can be strategic in making development more sustainable. Thus, the Integrated Technical Course in Chemistry, associated with cross-cutting themes, is essential for understanding chemical processes in the environment and the consequences of human actions on nature. This study aimed to analyze the Pedagogical Project of the Integrated Technical Course in Chemistry at the Federal Institute of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis (IFSC), in relation to sustainability. Documentary Research (FONSECA, 2002) and Content Analysis (BARDIN, 1977) were used. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, interviews were not possible. The hypothesis is that the course superficially addresses sustainability and is associated with the idea of causing less impact on consumer society, not aligned with the sustainability perspective considered by the authors, which involves biodiversity preservation. Although the term "sustainability" was not mentioned in the PPC, other results show that it is present in the course curriculum. The importance of dedicating efforts to Continuing Education to train the teaching staff in environmental issues is reinforced, as these professionals are important agents of change.