The COVID-19 pandemic encouraged researchers and public managers to adopt several strategies to contain the spread of the SARS-Cov-2 virus, including the closure of schools, which kept children, adolescents and teachers away from the school environment for more than a year. This study, carried out in the State of Rio de Janeiro, aimed to evaluate the perception of primary and secondary school teachers about returning to school during the pandemic. Method:Cross-sectional study carried out from 11/09 to 12/23/2020, with teachers, from public and private schools, who taught children between 6-18 years old, in primary or secondary education, using an electronic form. The data were processed by the Iramuteq software. Results:Three main thematic areas were highlighted:the impact of the pandemic on education, teachers' concerns about the contagion and prevention of COVID-19, and the inadequate structure of public schools. Conclusion: The research emphasizes the need for government attention in both education and public health, addressing issues such as biosafety, preventive measures, health promotion and training of educators. It is imperative to reformulate improvement measures in the school structure, aiming to prepare in advance to face potential future pandemics and health crises, ensuring a safe and effective educational environment for students and teachers.