COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION AND EQUITY: OVERCOMING LEARNING INEQUALITIES

Abstract

Integral education has been advocated by scholars such as Anísio Teixeira, Darcy Ribeiro, and Miguel Arroyo as a key strategy for promoting educational equity and overcoming learning inequalities. This chapter aims to analyze how integral education contributes to reducing educational disparities, considering pedagogical, social, and territorial dimensions. The methodology is based on a narrative literature review grounded in theoretical studies and Brazilian educational policy documents, with emphasis on contributions from contemporary authors such as Cavaliere and Moll. The results indicate that expanding learning time, spaces, and educational opportunities fosters students’ holistic development, particularly for those in socially vulnerable contexts, by integrating curriculum, culture, sports, and social protection.  Furthermore, the findings highlight that integrated and intersectoral pedagogical practices strengthen equity by recognizing differences as a starting point for learning. It is concluded that integral education, when implemented with pedagogical intentionality and a commitment to social justice, represents a powerful approach to addressing historical inequalities in the educational system and promoting meaningful and inclusive learning.