A LDB e o impacto da qualificação dos docentes nos indicadores de desempenho dos cursos de graduação da UFPA

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the impact of doctorate and masters qualifications held by teachers at UFPA, during the period 1985 to 2009, on undergraduate success and dropout rates. Initially the study aimed to give context and describe the history of Brazilian higher education before and after the passing of the still active Law of Guidelines and Bases of education. After identifying the departments and courses offered at UFPA, along with annual statistics, reports on management and analysis of the official systems used by the institution, the qualifications of the teachers, the number of freshmen, graduates and the total enrolled. This data was stored and processed by a computerized system, created by the researcher, to enable statistical analysis that would hopefully reveal relationships and patterns within the data that would help confirm or deny the cause and effect of teacher qualifications and student success at UFPA. The system identified the existence of a relationship between teacher qualifications, graduation rates and drop-out rates, using the Pearson correlation coefficient it was possible to measure the degree of this relationship. It was found through this statistical analysis and based on the theoretical frameworks that although the number of qualified teachers had increased the success rate of undergraduates it had not increased it proportionately. It was inferred, therefore, that the increase in the level of qualification of staff was caused by the LDB, which made it possible to affirm that the LDB had encouraged the improvement in teaching staff qualification; however, it did not significantly improve the indicators that measure the number of graduates from UFPA. Thus, the study found that it was not enough to simply improve the qualifications of the teaching staff. Other factors influence the improvement of performance indicators for undergraduate performance. It is hoped this research, will encourage reflection and debate about undergraduate education at UFPA in the management of courses and the Pro-Dean of Undergraduate Studies, as well as contribute to the direction of policies for graduate education through the provision of the SIAGRAD system, which could constitute an important tool for the management of the academic institution.