The National Permanent Health Education Policy in Public Health Schools: reflections from practice

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze aspects of the implementation of the National Permanent Health Education Policy of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, based on the experiences of Public Health Schools. Five workshops were held in schools located in different regions of the country, taking into account an analysis of the conceptual and organizational basis of the policy. The methodological premises hinged on a reflexivist approach based on a dialogue between the research team and school participants, which built on the identification and meaning of the experiences of these institution in permanent health education (PHE). This study shows that the principles and values of the PHE were adequate in these schools and employed as pedagogical practice, not only in clearly educational situations, as formative processes, but also in the very institutional development management and actions, as well as in their political action. The important role of these schools as co-fosterers of PHE in the country and their capacity of mobilizing different social agents should be emphasized.

Permanent health education; School; Public policies