Os Conselhos Municipais de Políticas Públicas sob o Olhar da Comunidade: Uma Experiência de Extens o Universitária

Based on the relationship between social management and university extension in a freiriana perspective, this article intends to analyze an extension initiative while an instrument for the awareness of the community concerning the importance of the participation, as well as to the perception of obstacles inherent to the operation of the city councils of public policies. This relation requires the search of emancipatory ideal that is directed by principles of freedom and autonomy of the individual, as well as of the criticality of the subjects discussed. It is assumed that the mobilization and the qualification of civil society participation within the councils are potential actions for strengthening democracy these instances. Data collection included the application of evaluation forms during the course of extension and analysis of reports of visits by students in four councils of public policies of the city of Rio de Janeiro. The results show that there was awareness among students about the importance of participating in councils, once the understanding of this instance as a space of struggle for rights and participation of society in the process of deliberation and supervision of public policies by the State. In addition, the results pointed to the community s awareness about obstacles in the functioning of the councils, as the lack of disclosure of the activities and consequent population misinformation about these spaces; the difficulty in access to council documents, as the agenda and the minutes of the last meetings; the low participation of civil society and disrespect for parity between segments representatives.