ROOTS AND REFORMS: THE CONSTRUCTION OF FORMAL EDUCATION IN BRAZIL

Abstract

The trajectory of formal education in Brazil is deeply intertwined with the political, social and religious contexts of each historical period. Since the colonial period, the introduction of educational practices in Brazilian territory has been linked to the guidelines of the Portuguese Crown and the interests of the Catholic Church. The first organized forms of education emerged with the arrival of the Jesuits in the 16th century, who assumed responsibility for the education of local populations. The main objective of these missions was not to promote scientific or philosophical knowledge, but rather to catechize the indigenous peoples and to form religious leaders aligned with the Catholic faith, consolidating the spiritual and cultural dominance of the metropolis. The Jesuits' activities were predominant for almost two centuries, until their expulsion in 1759 by the Marquis of Pombal, which marked a turning point in the current educational model, opening the way for attempts to secularize and modernize education. For a long time, education remained elitist, restricted to a small portion of the population, mainly male and linked to the ruling classes. It was only in the 20th century, in the last decades, that higher education underwent significant transformations in Brazil. Public policies aimed at inclusion and democratization of access to universities, such as the quota system, student financing programs and the expansion of federal institutions, made it possible for new student profiles to have the opportunity to enter higher education. The movement reflects a paradigm shift, where education begins to be recognized as a social right and an instrument of equity, gradually breaking with the exclusionary logic that marked its origin in the country.