摘要:This article analyzes the relationship between the state and the civil society in the availability of Educação de Jovens e Adultos (Young Adults and Adult Education – EJA) on the city school system of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The choice of this theme is due to the broad participation of the civil society in the availability of EJA. Our reflections are made with data from the master’s research concluded in 2016 on the so-called “External Groups” of EJA in the city school system of Belo Horizonte, capital of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The resumption of the EJA experiences in Brazil has shown that civil society has taken an important role on the educative offer for this public at least since the 19th century. This participation has been occurring in very diverse ways and can be even antagonistic, which comes to show that the consolidation of a state policy for EJA is still a challenge.