Afinal, para que servem as condicionalidades em educação do programa bolsa família?

Abstract

This article aims to ponder on poverty fighting strategies, from the minimum school attendance standpoint, present on the design of the "Programa Bolsa Família (PBF)", a cash transfer program of the Federal Government. Initially, some considerations are made based in scientific studies that problematize the effectiveness of education requirements inherent to the "Programa Bolsa Família". Following, I present the results of our research, developed between 2008 and 2010, which interviewed twenty-two PBF participants aiming to understand their singular viewpoint regarding this cash transfer program. The result of such investigation lead us to conclude that PBF requirements create an exchange and reciprocity relation between its beneficiaries and the Government. In these terms, I propose in this article that the discussions on the PBF education requirements should be considered within a broadened perspective-thus not restricted to its practical results in terms of school attendance or schooling increase- taking into account also its symbolic effects, notably the strengthening of feelings of belonging and social recognition by the interviewees- generated by the fulfillment of education requirements.