OS CONSELHOS DE ESCOLA NA PROMOÇÃO DA QUALIDADE ESCOLAR

This article addresses the role of School Councils in promoting school quality in Mozambique, highlighting the importance of democratic management and the development of critical consciousness within the educational environment. The topic is contextualized through the philosophical traditions of Ka2nt, Descartes, and Sartre, who argue that rationality and freedom are fundamental to individual autonomy, as well as the contributions of Paulo Freire, who emphasizes the need for a liberating and problematizing education. The research problem focuses on the pedagogical and school management mechanisms that can promote or limit the construction of critical consciousness for educational quality. The general objective was to analyze how School Councils contribute to the 2promotion of school quality, considering democratic management practices that foster critical thinking and conscious participation by the educational community. Methodologically, this is a qualitative study, based exclusively on bibliographic research, involving the analysis of books, scientific articles, legal documents, and recent studies on the subject. The results show that, despite legal advances and theoretical guidelines, effective participation in School Councils remains limited by institutional and cultural barriers and the lack of adequate training for members, which undermines their ability to bring about significant changes in school management. The discussion points out that overcoming symbolic participation, investing in continuous training, and valuing local experiences are essential for School Councils to become true agents of transformation and promoters of educational quality. It is concluded that democratic management, active participation, and critical training are determining factors for the emancipation of school subjects and for improving the quality of education in Mozambique.