FGV’s Public Policy Analysis Division (DAPP) launched the study ‘Education in focus: the effects of armed violence in classrooms’ this week. The research was developed by crossing data collected between July 2016 and July 2017 about shootings and gun shots, from collaborative records in the Fogo Cruzado application, and geolocated information about public education institutions in Rio de Janeiro (state, municipal, and federal schools and daycare centers). The analysis is supported by maps and statistics on the impact of armed violence on the school-age population in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

The goal of the research is to think about public policies that aim to meet the different needs of school-age children and teenagers who live in vulnerable areas, with high levels of violence, especially armed violence. The survey identified priority areas for public policy actions based on two criteria: the territorial concentration of schools and the incidence of shootings/gun shots, and only the number of shootings/gun shots.

“When we discuss public policies related to violence and education, we talk about social justice, to prioritize actions for the part of the population that is vulnerable, i.e., at a disadvantage in our society. What this study shows is that, despite violence being a structural issue, widespread in Rio de Janeiro, some territories are more affected by it, and therefore should be prioritized by the government, in order to mitigate the harmful effects on its residents, especially children,” said DAPP researcher Bárbara Barbosa.

The partnership between the DAPP and Fogo Cruzado seeks to qualify the information about armed conflicts, in order to foster public debate on the topic, understanding the multidimensional character of violence and its effect on pressing issues in society.

Click here (In portuguse) to view the complete study.