History, structure, legal bases, and planned reforms of the educational system of Venezuela are discussed. The conflicting roles of church and state in administering education have been reconciled within the past two decades, with resultant increases in enrollment and government financing. Curriculum regulation, coordination, and supervision are centralized within the Ministry of Education, and implementation, evaluation, and technical aspects of programs are managed by eight regional offices. Private education exists separately. The present educational structure begins with a pilot preschool program being extended throughout the country. Following completion of the six-year primary school, students enter the three-year basic cycle of secondary school and continue to a diversified cycle of either two years for general/academic education or two to three years for technical or normal training of primary and preschool teacher preparation. At the higher education level, qualified students enter either a five-year university program, a four-year program at a teacher-training institute, or a course in a polytechnic or technical junior-college-type institution. Approximately 80% of the students preparing for university study specialize in the sciences. Elements of the 1976-80 educational plan emphasize development of human resources and physical facilities and more effective financing of public education. (Author/AV)