Public policies : innovating to move forward

In all sectors, technology shortens distances, integrates, and connects. When applied to education, technological innovation breaks down barriers and improves the building of the future. It enhances processes, stimulates creative potential in students and teachers, and explores classroom topics more comprehensively, facilitating the learning process. 

Technology has fostered an evolution in educational methods, which has been built up gradually and has improved the quality of teaching. Therefore, it is essential that it be present in both the private and public education systems.

Among the many benefits, one in particular stands out as a significant step towards equal education: the guarantee of rights. Available technological resources offer numerous opportunities to eliminate barriers and provide better conditions so that students with different needs can develop at the same pace as everyone else.

The availability of classes and content from anywhere is a facilitator for students who face difficulties with commuting. The same is true for communities living in remote regions, with the option of distance learning. Students with visual or hearing impairments, who previously had limitations in accessing educational materials and interacting with classmates, teachers, and staff, are discovering new ways to connect and interact both in distance learning and within the classroom.

There are several examples that prove these benefits. Recently, we were able to experience this firsthand, promoting the donation, together with the Government of the State of Goiás, of OrCam MyEye glasses. This is an innovative Israeli technology that, through small modules attached to the frame, photographs and scans texts, transforming them into audio, as well as recognizing faces and products. With these devices, not only people with visual impairments, but also those with other conditions, such as cognitive disorders, cerebral palsy, and low vision, gain more autonomy and access to information.

In Bahia, we also donated OrCam MyEye glasses in partnership with the State Government, where each student in the state school system impacted the group of people living around them, such as teachers and the surrounding community. Considering the challenges we face in achieving the goals set by the United Nations (UN), in addition to contributing to SDG 4, Quality Education, this action is connected to SDG 9, stimulating innovation, and SDG 10, promoting social inclusion for all.

This demonstrates the power of using technological innovation applied to public policies, bringing opportunities for access to education to the most vulnerable segments of society. It also proves the importance of uniting the public and private sectors, government and civil society, through partnerships. 

The private sector has more room to experiment, learn about innovations, and create pilot projects so that analysis and measurement of results can confirm the effectiveness of the initiatives. With the educational network formed by the public sector, help reaches those who need it most throughout the country. It is in this union of forces that innovation guarantees the best of its potential to build better futures.

Carola Matarazzo – Executive Director of the Bem Maior Movement

This article was originally published on the website of the newspaper O Povo.