DISTANCE EDUCATION IN BRAZIL: ADVANCES, CHALLENGES, AND PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze the evolution of Distance Education (DE) in Brazil based on data from the Higher Education Census for the years 2003, 2013, and 2023, identifying trends, transformations, and implications for the educational landscape. Methodologically, this is a quantitative study with a documentary and descriptive approach, based on secondary data extracted from the Statistical Synopses of the National Institute for Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira (INEP), analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results show a significant growth of Distance Education over the past two decades, especially in the private sector, consolidating itself as the main driver of higher education expansion in the country and expanding access to education. However, this progress has also revealed challenges related to the quality of education, the commodification of teaching, and educational inequalities, reinforcing the need for regulatory policies that balance expansion and quality.