The article begins by characterizing the historical-ontological foundations of the work-education relationship which originally revealed itself in the form of full identity. It then shows how, despite the indissolubility of the referred relationship, the phenomenon of the separation between work and education revealed itself over history. The third moment deals with the tortuous and difficult process of questioning the separation and re-establishing the links between work and education which mark modern society. Finally, the article sketches the conformation of the system of education from the point of view of work as an educational principle and concludes with a discussion on the controversial theme of polytechnic education.
work-education relationship; historical-philosophical foundations of education; polytechnic education