ANTUNES, Fátima M.. Discursos e projectos para a educação: Diversificar, democratizar, universalizar . []. , 15, 4, pp.527-539. ISSN 0870-8231.

It is suggested that, during the eighties and nineties, it is possible to find, as far as education policies elaboration is concerned, different conceptions about the principle of educational opportunities equality. Having as reference a study about the discussion on vocacional education in public school, it is argued that it is possible to identify, on one side, a «meritocratic» perspective of the principle of equality of opportunities, which assumes distinct formulations in the context of different discourses (and projects) about education (while the discourse which deffends the diversification of education links notions about equality of opportunity and the choice of different educational pathways and courses, the discourse of democratization of education points out an association between equality of opportunities and the assertion of individual capacities) and, on the other hand, an «equalitarian» perspective of that principle, which informs the discourse about democratic school, which proposes a differentiation of educational practices, in the context of an unified educational system, in order to promote equality as parity of educational conditions and results.

: Educational opportunities equality; education policies; discourses in education; vocational education.

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