As the Federal Centers of Technological Education gradually become higher education institutions the educational meaning they assume requires a definition of which human being we want to form and what purposes education serves. A reflection about the issue of technique, science and technology and their relation to work and education is also needed. Seeking a vision of social totality of the phenomena, in their multiple relations, therefore, in their complexity, we tackle the proposed subject in its historical and political dimension. We first reflect on the meaning of technique and its relation to knowledge, science and technologies. We then approach the terms productive and/or emancipated citizen and the Brazilian social structure, marked by great inequalities. Finally, we raise the issues of universities and production of knowledge and their relation to senior high school and the education of technologists on a higher level.
Higher education; Technique; Science and technology; Productive citizen; Technologist