ABSTRACT This article aimed to discuss the challenges faced by teachers of Youth and Adult Education (YAE) in the municipality of João Pessoa/PB, to teach the elderly during the covid-19 pandemic. The qualitative method was adopted and information was collected with 10 teachers through a questionnaire in Google Forms virtual format. They were examined with the Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA). The results revealed the difficulties that teachers face in dealing with remote teaching, especially with the elderly, since this portion of the population has its own technological deficiencies and is not used to this teaching format.

RESUMO Este artigo objetivou discutir os desafios enfrentados pelos docentes da Educação de Jovens e Adultos (EJA), do município de João Pessoa/PB, para ensinar idosos durante a pandemia de covid-19. Adotou-se o método qualitativo e coletou-se informações, através do uso de questionário no formato virtual do Google Forms, de 10 professores. Eles foram examinados a partir da Análise Crítica do Discurso (ACD). Os resultados revelaram as dificuldades que os professores enfrentam em lidar com o ensino remoto, sobretudo com idosos, uma vez que tal parcela populacional possui suas deficiências tecnológicas e não está acostumada com esse formato de ensino.

Resumen:Este ensayo presenta una reflexión fundamentada en una investigación documental sobre la inserción de la persona adulta mayor en espacios educacionales (universidades abiertas), que privilegien la Pedagogía Social, como medio de educación no formal y educación permanente, para posibilitar el empoderamiento. El resultado muestra que la educación para la persona mayor debe posibilitar inserción social, reconocimiento de papeles sociales, actualización de conocimientos, valorización y elevación de la autoestima, calidad de vida, dignidad y ciudadanía. En las últimas décadas se acentúa el envejecimiento de la población, el cual es considerado como uno de los grandes desafíos de la actualidad. Así surge la necesidad de políticas públicas y acciones que se dirijan a la atención de las demandas de este grupo etario para procurar la mejora de las condiciones de vida, garantía de los derechos y el empoderamiento mediante una educación pautada en la Pedagogía Social.

Abstract:This paper presents a reflection based on documentary research on the integration of Older Adults in educational spaces (open universities), Social Pedagogy that privilege as a means of non-formal education and lifelong learning, to enable empowerment. The result shows that senior education should enable social inclusion, recognition of social roles, update knowledge, recovery and raising self-esteem, quality of life, dignity and citizenship. In recent decades, is accentuated population aging, which is considered one of the greatest challenges today is emphasized. Thus the need for public policies and actions aimed to address the demands of this age group to ensure improved living conditions, safeguarding the rights and empowerment through education in Social Pedagogy scheduled arises.