School Internal Evaluation: Between Rhetoric and Reality

The article explores internal evaluation in educational institutions as a mechanism intended to support quality assurance, but which in many contexts remains embedded in a bureaucratic logic. The study highlights challenges related to the perception, implementation, and use of self-evaluation, both in the Republic of Moldova and across several European countries. International examples, institutional support models, and recommendations from organizations such as the OECD, European Commission, and UNESCO are presented. Furthermore, the article emphasizes the importance of guidance, school partnerships, and the role of the critical friend in fostering continuous quality improvement. The conclusion calls for a paradigm shift: from formal compliance to a reflective culture of educational quality.