Innovating Basic Education: NEPSO as a Pedagogical Strategy for Teaching Statistics

In the contemporary information era, the exponential expansion of data access and the widespread dissemination of misinformation underscore the necessity of statistical literacy as a fundamental competency for informed citizenship. The ability to critically interpret statistical information, assess data sources, and make evidence-based decisions is essential in modern society. However, the teaching of Statistics in basic education remains challenging, often characterized by overly technical approaches and a lack of real-world applicability (Silva & Souza, 2024). In this context, the NEPSO methodology (Nossa Escola Pesquisa Sua Opinião – Our School Surveys Your Opinion) emerges as an innovative pedagogical strategy for developing statistical literacy through the use of opinion surveys. This approach enables students to engage with key statistical concepts—such as population and sample, sampling techniques, descriptive statistics, data analysis, and correlational studies—while critically examining contemporary social issues (Oliveira & Reis, 2021). Originally developed in Brazil in 2000 by Ação Educativa and the Instituto Paulo Montenegro, NEPSO was first implemented in public schools in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Over the following decades, it expanded both nationally and internationally, becoming part of diverse educational systems in countries such as Chile, Peru, and Portugal. Currently, the methodology is applied in elementary education, secondary education, and adult education (EJA), demonstrating its adaptability to different learning contexts. This study aims to analyze the implementation of NEPSO across different countries, identifying its challenges, potentialities, and impact on students' statistical learning and civic education. In Brazil, the methodology has been consolidated through regional autonomous hubs, particularly in the states of São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco, Paraná, and Bahia. Since the 2000s, teachers and students have actively participated in training workshops, research dissemination seminars, and action plans aimed at investigating socially relevant issues. In Minas Gerais, a partnership with the Municipal Department of Education of Belo Horizonte facilitated the adoption of NEPSO within the Projeto Entrelaçando, contributing to reductions in age-grade distortion and improvements in students’ statistical proficiency (Villaça & Brito, 2016). The international adoption of NEPSO has also yielded significant results. In Portugal, the methodology, promoted by the Vox Populi Foundation, has been widely integrated into social sciences education, serving as a mechanism for fostering discussions on complex social issues. A large-scale study conducted by Cardoso and Pestana (2023) involving 1,174 Portuguese students found that NEPSO significantly enhances competencies in Interpersonal Relationships (86%), Ethical and Citizenship Values (84%), and Autonomy and Personal Development (80%), reinforcing its role in fostering holistic student development. In Peru, research by Gamboa Risgo (2017) indicated that NEPSO positively influences students’ communicative competencies, particularly in argumentation and critical thinking skills. In Chile, Williamson and Hidalgo (2015) emphasize the curriculum flexibility of the methodology, demonstrating its high didactic potential and capacity for integration into institutional educational projects, curricular frameworks, and pedagogical practices. According to the authors, this flexibility promotes creative, critical, and reflective learning, benefiting both students and educators. Findings from different national and international contexts suggest that NEPSO is a versatile and methodologically coherent approach, adaptable to various educational structures and modalities. A key element across all analyzed experiences is student protagonism, as learners actively engage in research processes and develop statistical reasoning and investigative skills. By bridging theoretical statistical concepts with real-world applications, NEPSO contributes to the development of critically aware and data-literate individuals, equipping them to navigate and analyze complex social phenomena. Its successful adaptation to diverse educational settings highlights its potential for broader implementation and scalability, positioning it as an innovative and transformative framework for statistics education. REFERENCES: Cardoso, T. M. L., & Pestana, F. (2023). Formação docente, pesquisa de opinião e literacia estatística na escola: Doze anos de “NEPSO” em Portugal. 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