Abstract

This essay deals with the relationship between the development models of the Latin American countries (especially the Chilean case) and the structure of their educational systems. The objective is to study the relationship between the evolution of Latin American states and the conceptualization of education within each politicalinstitutional framework. A review of education as a dimension of development from the traditional perspective of the United Nations and from a notion of broad development is presented, based on the contributions of Dag Hammarskjöld and Amartya Sen. Also, an analysis of the challenges that arise for the Latin American countries in educational matters is included, based on the demands of the global world, especially regarding education for sustainable development. As conclusion, the educational systems creates a high stratified social system, with a concentration of students with similar socio-economic background and a social culture that promotes individualism and the exploitation of human relations, dispelling public sense.