Escola Concept & progressive pedagogy
By Jason Mei
Air-conditioned lobbies. Multiple Elkay water dispensers. Gum-free tables and desks. Smooth, unblemished hardwood floors. Freshly painted white walls with Victorian-esque windows and vast open playground spaces with a soon-to-be outdoor pool.
These were my initial impressions when we first arrived at Escola Concept in Sao Paulo, Brazil on March 21st, 2023. The educators and teachers who greeted us were affable and welcoming. The students were exceptionally well-spoken and demonstrated the qualities of young, professional adults. It was truly an incredible sight and experience.
To give some context, our group had the opportunity to visit Escola Concept, a school that is taking a progressive pedagogy approach in its curriculum. Its enrollment of students ranged from just a year old to all the way to high school. Escola Concept prides itself on creating a rigorous and vibrant environment with the goal of having its students fall in love with learning. That way, they grow up to be curious individuals prepared to handle any and all obstacles thrown their way. With the school adopting advanced placement courses in combination with project-based learning material, students will have their university of choice in Brazil or abroad.
The students who gave us a tour around the school perfectly illustrated the quality of education being given. As mentioned earlier, they were far beyond their years; their proficiency in English was especially remarkable. This was one of the notable factors that differentiated Escola Concept from other schools. In fact, English was emphasized more than Portuguese, the national language of Brazil.
As my initial impressions began to simmer down, our group did notice some discrepancies between what was preached and what was actually seen. Behind the hanging benches and fruit salad refreshments, the entire community was gated off with opaque walls. While cameras were scarce inside the school, they made up for it along the perimeter. Security personnel suited in all black was present at every exit point. Although there was some diversity within the school, they all conformed to a very particular image.
At the end of the day, Escola Concept is a private school and it comes with a hefty price tag. Quoted at nearly 12,000 reais a month which roughly translates to $2,400 USD, this would be considered quite expensive even in the U.S. With many Brazilians making the minimum wage of 1,300 reais a month, Escola Concept is only open to a very specific demographic.
I personally wished this point was addressed. Buzzwords like inclusivity, dynamic, and sustainably have their meanings diminished if most students come from backgrounds not representative of everyday Brazilians. Scholarships and grants were mentioned, albeit, I would not be surprised if they covered only a fraction of the enrollments.
Overall, our short visit to Escola Concept was a unique experience; it highlights what education could be. However, it also serves as a reminder as to who really gets to utilize it.
