Adoption of inmates and teacher training for prison: Actions of political fraternity and human rights approaching university extension to ASCES and UFPE in the rural area of Pernambuco state, Brazil

Abstract

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.14244/19827199668

This study aims to analyze how two extension projects - Legal Adoption of Inmates (ASCES) and Teacher Training for Penitentiary System (UFPE) - enable coordinated actions of citizenship and human rights in a prison facility located in the ‘agreste’ region of Pernambuco state, Brazil, since 2001 (ASCES) and 2009 (UFPE). The work was articulated based on the participation of ASCES teachers in the Research Group of UFPE-CNPq, and on the perception of how the integration of institutional activities could improve results and include a larger number of teachers, students, and beneficiaries - prisoners and educators of the penitentiary system. The actions involving broad participation of civil society were carried out fortnightly at the prison unit; the works are presented in the form of training meetings with teachers, lectures, and discussions with inmates, as well as in activities mediated by playful elements such as images, photographs, films, documentaries, music, and poetry. Students from the two institutions are integrated without competition; teachers receive continuing education; and recreational activities with the inmates break their prison routine and encourage them to remain in the classroom, reducing evasion. The activity is used as internship workload for the ASCES students and as supplementary activities for students of Pedagogy. These activities also allow the two institutions to contribute for improving the quality of education in prison; motivate the interaction of students from different institutions, including students form institutions that do not belong to the projects, attracting the participation of many volunteers and alumni from the ASCES and the Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Languages of Caruaru - FAFICA. Political fraternity appears as the theoretical framework in the work with teachers and in encouraging relations between the subjects involved in the concern with the formation of civilizing values based on the dignity of inmates or free citizens. The theoretical framework that subsidizes this study has Paulo Freire, Hannah Arendt and Barros as main authors.

Keywords: University extension, Human rights, Political fraternity.