It is argued that as a function of the changes which have taken place in capitalism on the global level, characterized by the rise of production f a flexible nature, a group of modifications meant to assure closer approximation of these teaching modalities to the productive sector has been set off in professional education and mid level teaching. The Brazilian government, however, influenced by the multilateral agencies and by big business, instead of seeking to assure a model of professional training directed at making a more autonomous and critical worker, has established a division of tasks between the Ministries of Education and Labor, which reinforces the dichotomy between professional education and propaedeutic training inside the Brazilian educational system.