Inspection carried out by 32 Audit Courts, on the last 24th, 25th and 26th, found that 57% of the classrooms visited in the country are unsuitable as a place of study. Over the course of three days, inspectors went to 1,082 public, state and municipal schools in 537 cities in all states and the Federal District. Approximately 200 infrastructure items were investigated in the schools. The main problems encountered were broken windows, fans and furniture; insufficient lighting and ventilation; leaks and moldy walls. Failures were also detected in cleaning and sanitizing school premises. “In a certain teaching unit, inside the classroom there was also the stove and the gas cylinder for preparing the school lunch, with the pressure cooker on top of the stove”, highlighted the president of the Association of Members of the Courts of Auditors from Brazil (Atricon), Cezar Miola. The action, called Operation Education, carried out by Atricon in partnership with the São Paulo State Court of Auditors (TCESP), found 31% of the schools visited without sewage collection and 8% without garbage collection. In 89% of the inspected schools there was no Fire Department Inspection Report (AVCB), a document that certifies compliance with firefighting rules. The survey also showed that 86% of schools did not have fire hydrants; 44% did not have fire extinguishers; and 28% had expired fire extinguishers. “It is unacceptable that places with such a large circulation of people, most of them children, do not meet basic safety criteria. Furthermore, we know that for good learning, books and teachers are not enough. The environment surrounding the student is also very important. How can we expect these young people to retain knowledge in such adverse conditions?”, highlighted the president of TCSP, Sidney Beraldo. Books and computers The inspection also found 63% of schools without libraries; 63% without a reading room; and 88% without a laboratory or computer room. In the security area, 57% of schools did not have any surveillance cameras; 45% were without private supervision or school patrol; and 87% did not have a panic button or equivalent equipment. In 53% of the schools visited, inspectors found problems at the entrance to the building. Among them, 17% had a wall or walls with holes that allowed access by strangers; 8% had a vandalized or damaged gate; and 10% had inadequate gate control. “The Courts of Auditors, with these elements, will have subsidies for new inspections, recommendations and determinations and, depending on the case, even the application of sanctions. And, as for the necessary resources, it is necessary to remember that the amounts not invested in 2020 and 2021 in the maintenance and development of education should be applied by municipalities and states, now in 2023”, highlighted Miola. Capital of São Paulo In the capital of São Paulo, inspectors found critical conditions related to safety and fire prevention. In all, 36 municipal schools administered by the city of São Paulo were visited. According to inspection, 86% of schools in São Paulo did not have AVCB with adequate validity; 41% of them did not have fire hydrants and one of them did not have fire extinguishers. The panic button had already been installed in six of the 36 schools visited, but 14 of them did not have private surveillance or school patrol, which is equivalent to 38% of the schools. In all, 27 of the 36 schools had security cameras, but in one of them the cameras did not work during the inspection. On the date of the inspection, the 24th, all schools had drinking water, regular sewage collection and were up to date on insect control. The majority (77%) had good cleaning conditions. However, the survey points out that 52% of the units did not have accessibility resources in their internal circulation routes for people with disabilities or mobility. In 33% of the schools visited there was a lack of toilet paper, 16% had bathrooms with missing or broken faucets, and 19% had missing or broken doors. In total, 47% of schools had apparent bathroom problems, including toilets without a lid or bathrooms missing one of the toilets. In almost 70% of the schools, bathrooms without accessibility for people with special needs were identified. In a note, the Municipal Secretary of Education of the City of São Paulo said that it is available to TCM for the necessary clarifications. “The portfolio points out that improvement reforms are underway in partnership with the Municipal Department of Urban Infrastructure and Works (SIURB). The school units also receive funds through the Financial Resource Transfer Program (PTRF) for maintenance, minor repairs, acquisition of materials and equipment”. Matter updated at 8:24 pm to include the position of the City of São Paulo.
Agência Brasil
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