ABSTRACT:
The objective of this article is to reflect on the sense of socioeducation and its contradictions in the practice of the social education counselor. For that, it analyses data of a qualitative research, which uses interviews and the understanding of the role of socio-educators in the Specialized Reference Centers in Social Assistance (CREAS) of five municipalities in the interior of the state of São Paulo. Through critical analysis, it is evident the contradictions between socio-educational and punitive goals. We understand, considering the complexity of the practice that this issue relates to a current socio-historical context marked by the logic of the individualization of social problems, an inheritance of the doctrine of the irregular situation that corroborates with the indications of the literature of the area. Thus, despite advances in the direction of guaranteeing rights, socio-education, from the perspective of the research participants, in the daily life of services, it is dubious between protection and punishment. Thus, from the results of the research, it is possible to affirm that socio-education is effective in the contradiction resulting from its little conceptual precision as well as the difficulties of execution in the daily routine of services. In such a way, most of the socio-educational actions stem from being more punitive. From this perception, it is necessary to improve public policies, development, and collective participation in the construction and application of a proposal for socio-education.
Key words:
Socioeducation; Socio-educational measures; Public policies