A desistência de alunos na licenciatura em física no Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Norte (IFRN): causas e sugestões para o combate

This dissertation proposes studying the issue of withdrawal undergraduate in physics at the Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio Grande do Norte (IFRN) and collaborate with suggestions for dealing with this problem. The first chapter begins with an overview of two significant problems in the Brazilian educational system: the high dropout rates in degrees in physics and the lack of teachers with specific training in this science. Then, we discuss the relevance of this research to the area of physics teaching, as well as justify its completion as part of a professional master's degree. After, we present a proper definition for the term withdrawal, which is based on the existing problem in the IFRN. And, in the same chapter, we explicitly the focus, the objectives and the methodological aspects of this work. The results obtained in our investigation are presented in next four chapters. In the second chapter of this dissertation, we present: a brief history of the creation of IFRN degree in physics, the functioning of this course and the foundation of classrooms 2004.2 and 2006.1. We also show a kind of map of the withdrawal of the groups investigated (the dropout rate was 84.4% in both groups) and an analysis of the relationship between the curricula of each of them and the number of dropouts. In the third chapter, we display a descriptive statistics of the students which dropout and found that the largest dropout occurred with students who are women, married, parents of one kid; workers, joined with a minimum age of 23 years and completed high school at least 6 years. Then in the fourth chapter, we reveal and discuss the students' reports on the causes of their dropout. From the data presented, we can say that the answer to the question "What was the main reason for your dropout?" Is mainly in personal injury claims: another option for upper-level course and lack of time to devote to the course. In the fifth chapter, we show the results related to teacher s opinions about the phenomenon in question. We detected three main causes for the abandonment, according to teachers: the lack of dedication, the lack of interest and lack of integration in the course. In the sixth and final chapter, we discuss the results and present our conclusion and the proposed report - the product of this dissertation, presented as Annex. This report contains mainly suggestions for curricular and institutional actions that can contribute to reducing the dropout degree in Physics in the IFRN. The main actions suggested are: implementation of the curriculum in disciplines, implementation of programs or actions to combat this poor content of basic training, implementation of specific programs or actions for the student worker, and dissemination of IFRN degree in physics in schools through seminars or workshops