ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the large-scale processes occurring in Latin American education during the third-quarter of the 20th century, the vital framework for the reflections on education and social justice produced by Iván Illich, Paulo Freire and Ernesto Guevara. The fundamental thesis defended here is that in these years – for the first time – we find a positive value set on education by all sectors of society. The results were an explosive increase in the number of children entering the education system, and a dizzying succession of educational reforms in an attempt to adapt to and channel this growth. Special attention is paid to difficulties suffered by the education system as a result of these two processes – growth and reform – and to the criticisms of the system which started to be voiced from all sides.
