The article analyzes measures that refer to educational policy aimed at young people and adults with little schooling in Brazil and Portugal, which, despite its differences, presents similarities due to its position on the international stage, as well as demonstrating its receptiveness to the determinations emanating from supranational organizations. These organizations have in common the defence of an instrumental conception of education for employability, productivity, competitiveness and social cohesion. The governments of both countries have adhered to the proposition that their position in the international division of work is the result of the low level of qualification of the working class. The analysis covers the New Opportunities Programme (Programa Novas Oportunidades) in Portugal and the ProJovem Programme in Brazil, and indicates that both contribute to increase the functional subordination of educational policies to economic interests and to reinforce the ideological conformity of the working class in both countries.
youth and adult education; public policy; work and education; comparative studies in Brazil and Portugal