Referencial Curricular do Ensino Médio Potiguar: A Comprehensive Guide

The Referencial Curricular do Ensino Médio Potiguar is presented by the Secretaria de Estado da Educação, da Cultura, do Esporte e do Lazer (SEEC-RN) to education professionals, students, families, and the broader society. It is the result of extensive discussions, studies, and reflections on curriculum and teaching practices. This framework consolidates curriculum guidelines for basic education, aligning with the curriculum documents for early childhood and elementary education, as approved by Resolution n° 102/2018-CEE/RN. The development of these curriculum references involved collaboration among education secretariats, the Conselho de Secretários de Educação (CONSED), the União Nacional dos Dirigentes Municipais de Educação (UNDIME), and the Conselho Nacional de Educação (CNE), aiming to establish unified national curriculum guidelines. This unity is intended to promote universal learning, accommodate student mobility across education networks, and incorporate regional and local diversity in the organization of basic education offerings.

The Referencial Curricular do Ensino Médio Potiguar is legally based on the National Constitution of 1988, the Law of Directives and Bases of Education (LDB), and the National Common Core Curriculum (BNCC). It aligns with the national guidelines while adapting to the specific needs and context of Rio Grande do Norte. The curriculum aims to promote democratic, integral, and inclusive education.

The primary objective of the Referencial Curricular is to provide a comprehensive education that prepares students for higher education, the workforce, and active citizenship. Specific objectives include developing critical thinking skills, promoting social and emotional learning, and fostering a sense of responsibility and engagement with the community. The curriculum also emphasizes the importance of project-based learning and interdisciplinary approaches.

The curriculum is structured around four main areas of knowledge: Languages and Their Technologies, Human and Social Sciences, Mathematics and Its Technologies, and Natural Sciences and Their Technologies. Each area includes specific components and competencies that students are expected to develop throughout their high school education. The curriculum also incorporates contemporary cross-cutting themes (TCTs) such as environmental education, human rights, and digital literacy.

The Referencial Curricular addresses various modalities of Ensino Médio, including professional and technological education, special education, basic education in rural areas, indigenous school education, quilombola school education, education for populations in itinerant situations, and youth and adult education. Each modality is tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of the students it serves.

The curriculum emphasizes the importance of youth protagonism and the development of life projects. Students are encouraged to take an active role in their learning and to develop a sense of purpose and direction for their future. The curriculum provides opportunities for students to explore their interests, develop their skills, and make informed decisions about their education and career paths.

The implementation of the Referencial Curricular requires a collaborative effort from teachers, administrators, and the community. Pedagogical practices should be student-centered, engaging, and relevant to the students' lives. The curriculum encourages the use of diverse teaching methods, including project-based learning, collaborative learning, and technology-enhanced learning. Assessment should be formative and aligned with the curriculum's objectives.

The Referencial Curricular do Ensino Médio Potiguar represents a significant step towards providing a comprehensive and equitable education for all students in Rio Grande do Norte. By aligning with national guidelines, adapting to the regional context, and emphasizing student protagonism, the curriculum aims to prepare students for success in the 21st century. The SEEC-RN makes the Referencial Curricular available to public and private networks and society in Rio Grande do Norte, essential for decision-making in schools, at the time of organizing the Political Pedagogical Project (PPP) in collaborative production with School Councils. The organization of pedagogical and curricular work, expressed in the PPP, must express the integral, democratic, inclusive and emancipatory formation of children, young people, adults and elderly people.