New Perspectives in Science Education

This empirical research analyzes the transformation and expansion of secondary education in Brazil over the last decades, considering the National Education Plan and the challenge of educational inequalities in Brazil. Despite the rapid growth in the rate of enrollment observed after 2005, factors such as income, ethnicity, urban-rural - are still strongly related to educational inequity process. Also in relation to the labor market, the Brazilian secondary education system appears to be extremely selective and responsive, with a low percentage of student workers accessing and remaining at that level of education. Instead, it is necessary to consider the endogenous problems of the system itself: inadequate teacher training, large numbers of students per class, low pay, among others. Another point to consider is the poor quality of education offered (as indicated by several national and international systems of evaluation), and the crucial difference between public and private institutions. In conclusion, the research highlights the existence of a "perverse educational pyramid" (NEVES; RAIZER; FACHINETTO, 2007; RAIZER, 2016) in the country that- despite the policies and programs implemented in recent years, persists and reduces the social role of education, shaping a strong reproductive educational system.