Secondary Education and Knowledge Society in Brazil

As in many countries around the world, secondary education in Brazil has been in crisis in recent decades. Despite the reforms implemented over the years, including the current proposal of a National Common Curricular Base, the country still has not found a balance that should attend both education for citizenship and professional development. With a low percentage of students enrolled in vocational and technological schools, secondary education has only been one step before joining the higher education system, not having a relevant role in the development of innovation. Moreover, before being a propeller for reducing social inequality, secondary education is an important element in the process of formation and reproduction of the enormous inequality that marks the Brazilian society. The analysis of national macro and micro data, and interviews with students in selected schools (elite and mass), reveals the different trajectories of school success and failure, as well as their determinants. On the other hand, the study highlights the profound gap between the education system and the national development model, which constitutes a relevant obstacle to the development of the knowledge society in the country.