ECA-USP suspends 11 disciplines of the Visual Arts course

The non-renewal of the contract of three temporary teachers and the unavailability of educators. This was the explanation presented by the School of Communications and Arts of the University of São Paulo (ECA-USP) for the cancellation of 11 disciplines of the Visual Arts course this semester (2H23), according to the Association of Teachers of the University of São Paulo (Adusp).

Shortly before the announcement of the suspension of disciplines, students of the visual arts chair, from other ECA courses and from other university units promoted a demonstration, on the last 9th of this month, with the objective of denouncing the situation and demanding measures from the direction of the unit and the rectory, in addition to publishing an open letter highlighting the importance of the course, the 12th most popular in the last USP entrance exam, with 31 candidates per vacancy.

The letter from the students says that “the lack of hiring professors in a course like Visual Arts at USP limits the opportunities for developing new talents, as still compromises the prestige of the institution and its ability to attract students, partnerships and relevant projects, compromising the maintenance of a qualified and stable faculty, vital for the quality of teaching at the university and since its beginning connected to the cultural and artistic community, playing a fundamental role in the training of professionals linked to the area".

When commenting on the difficulties in replacing the teaching staff, the course coordinator, João Musa, points out the criteria defined for the appointment of professors as one of the factors responsible for the decline in the number of professionals, since provisional contracts have a maximum duration of two years. At the end of this period, a new tender is held to hire new substitutes.

In the case of permanent workers, who work full time, Musa explains that replacement has declined in recent years. “USP promised that it would replace 80% of the professors lost in the last four years. Now, for those who already had one less teacher, replacing only 80% also generates another hole. She delayed the delivery of these teachers, who should have come last year, this year, ”he concluded.