This paper analyzes data on school enrollment in the fundamental and medium education in Brazil. It argues that the universalization of fundamental education, which is not yet concluded, represents a quality change in the dynamics of the educational contradictions in Brazil. Although it is a democratization process, through which social historically excluded groups can progress within the educational system, it changes the place and quality of social differentiation and exclusion. A debate on educational quality as a component of the right to education is thus more and more important.
Fundamental teaching; Democratization of the access; Educational policy; Educational system expansion