The Roberto Rocca Technical School (ETRR), which is being built by Ternium in Santa Cruz, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, is taking its first step towards offering high school and technical education to young people in the region. With a pedagogical model focused on practical learning that aims to guarantee professional training and the skills needed for industry, the institution is focused on promoting education as a tool for the social development of local young people, through quality technical training.
The school will offer scholarships of up to 100% for secondary and technical education for all students, with the percentage of discount varying according to each student's socio-economic conditions. Student will have access to an educational program of globally recognized quality and excellence, focused on industry.
The 9,000 square-meter building will feature 17 laboratories and state-of-the-art equipment to provide practical learning, focusing on the main market practices. With an investment of 37 million dollars, the unit is part of the Roberto Rocca Technical Schools network and is the third in the Techint Group, of which Ternium is a member.192 places will be available for the 2025 school year, plus a further 192 for 2026 and 192 for 2027, when the ETRR will be completely built, making a total of 576 places. "We included the preparatory course in the selection process to level out the students' knowledge and so that everyone can start preparing for the future. Integrating industrial activity with education, providing training that will guarantee more opportunities for those who need it most is the main mission of the Roberto Rocca Technical School," says Júlio Egreja, Director of ETRR Santa Cruz.
The school is being built approximately 3km from Ternium.
For the Director of the Ternium Institute, Fernanda Candeias, access to quality education can make a difference to the lives of young people in the region. "Ternium's focus is to be close to the community. The Santa Cruz region is our priority and that's why this initiative by Ternium is so important. High quality education is the way for many young people to find better opportunities for professional development and quality of life. It's the community and industry growing together," he explains.
Education, industry, and community
Located on the banks of the Rio-Santos highway, the school will offer a mega-structure, with state-of-the-art laboratories and equipment, in a complete educational complex with a cafeteria, gymnasium and auditorium. In addition to technical learning, focused on their specialties, the students will also have the regular high school subjects. The school reinforces Ternium's commitment to integrating the community with industry, prioritizing the local population, which will benefit directly from the project.
With an educational program focused on industry, the school will prioritize professional practice without neglecting the teaching of essential skills and abilities today. The STEM methodology (focused on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and project-based learning will develop students' innovative and cooperative spirit, as well as their ability to solve real problems. To further stimulate the impact on training for the job market, the school has targeted two of the area’s most in demand by industry, with the Mechatronics and Electromechanics courses, and will train professionals to work in the automotive, aerospace, food, energy, and other industries.