Educational Evaluation

Evaluation is defined as a systematic, continuous and comprehensive process of determining the growth and progress of the pupil towards objectives or values of the curriculum. It is also a systematic determination of merit, worth, and significance of something or someone. Furthermore, it is used to characterize and appraise subjects of interest in a wide range of human enterprises.

The American Evaluation Association created a set of Guiding Principles for evaluators which can equally apply in the Philippine context:

1. systematic inquiry. Evaluation must be based on concrete evidence and data to support the inquiry process.

2. competence, Evaluators must be people of known competence and generally acknowledge in the educational field.

3. Integrity/Honesty. Evaluators ensure the honesty and integrity of the entire evaluation process.

4. Respect for People. Evaluators respect the security, dignity and self-worth of the respondents, program participants, clients and other stakeholders with whom they interact.

5. responsibilities for general and public welfare. Evaluators articulate and take into account the diversity of interests and values that may be related to the general and public welfare.

The above-mentioned evaluation guiding principles can be used in various levels: at the institutional level ( to evaluate learning), at the policy level ( to evaluate institutions), and at the international level ( to rank and evaluate performance of various institutions of higher learning). These principles serve as benchmarks for good practices in educational evaluation.