QUALITY OF BASIC EDUCATION: BEYOND LARGE-SCALE COGNITIVE TESTS

Abstract This article analyzes the evaluation of the quality of basic education in Brazil, questioning the overemphasis on cognitive test results as the primary indicator of educational excellence. A more comprehensive interpretative model is proposed, grounded in the seven axes of the Quality Matrix of the Sistema de Avaliação da Educação Básica [Basic Education Assessment System] (Saeb), which encompasses multiple dimensions of education. In addition, the limitations of Saeb are outlined, and the adverse effects of large-scale assessments are discussed, highlighting the need for a broader perspective on the dimensions that should constitute educational quality. The article concludes that an evaluation model that goes beyond cognitive tests is essential for a more comprehensive understanding of the quality of education.