Realidade, limites e desafios de uma escola agrícola do estado do Rio de Janeiro: um olhar a partir da agroecologia

Abstract

This thesis investigates the process of social uprooting and the changing profile of young people in rural Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro, highlighting the challenges faced by the Nilo Batista Municipal Agricultural School in a context marked by real estate speculation, socio-spatial transformations, and the devaluation of family farming. The central issue concerns the growing difficulty young people face in remaining in rural areas, alongside the erosion of the school's role as a space for agroecological education and the reinforcement of rural identity. This qualitative-quantitative research draws on the author's seventeen years of teaching experience and in-depth engagement with the school community, aiming to understand how schools - through an agroecological approach - can help reverse the process of youth uprooting. The analysis engages with the concepts of new ruralities, rural education, and sustainable rural development, drawing on both secondary sources and local perspectives. The findings suggest that although the school shows a commitment to agroecology, it has been losing its rural identity and has not succeeded in fostering a strong connection between young people and the land. Consequently, the thesis argues that agroecology, when integrated with more humane and supportive public policies, represents a promising path toward redefining the role of rural schools and strengthening youth retention in rural areas – contributing to the transformation of local realities through social justice, sustainability, and quality of life.