Agroecology and rural education: Are there means of encouragin youth retention in rural communities

• Main Authors: Fernanda Paula Piran Kusniewski, Kátia Aparecida Seganfredo, Maude Regina de Borba
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM) 2019-05-01
• Series: Geografia Ensino & Pesquisa
• Subjects: Assentamentos rurais; Educação; Êxodo; Juventude e Trabalho
• Online Access: https://periodicos.ufsm.br/geografia/article/view/31991

This research aims to discuss the reality of young people in rural areas. The focus lied on the perspectives of youngsters living in rural areas and their respective relationship with an Agroecological Production and Rural Education. The analysis was performed by a qualitative-quantitative approach with data provided by a field survey through semi-structured interviews and questionnaires. The study was based on youngsters living the rural settlements of Marcos Freire and Ireno Alves dos Santos, in the city of Rio Bonito do Iguaçu, Paraná state (Brazil). A total of 58 juveniles were surveyed, being split into three different groups: families engaged in an Agroecological Production system (17), in a Conventionalsystem (18),and those juveniles who are enrolled in a rural school (23). The age range in this study was between 13 and 29 years. As a result,no relationshipswere observed between the perspectives ofremaining in the field by youngsters in a givenproduction system and their participation in Rural Education. The main reasons for the migrations of young people from countryside arose from the search for schooling and employment. Lastly, both an Agroecological Production system and Rural Education still face numerous challenges from a theoretical and practical point of view.